History Main / DarwinistDesire

* Justified in ''Literature/RaptorRed,'' since the character is a Utahraptor. She rejects a yellow snout raptor who tries to court her, despite being another subspecies, and later, another suitor is rejected because he has parasites. Eventually, she is persuaded by a red snout male to pair up. Her thoughts are that he's strong and smart. Another female, meanwhile, keeps getting rejected because she's freakishly big and the males sense something wrong.
* In ''TheShipWho'', people commonly bank sperm and ova upon their majority, and it's noted that there are cases of individuals who are particularly noted for intelligence and capability getting deluged with requests for their gametes so that people who admire them can have their babies.
* Somehow PlayedForLaughs in a spinoff of the Literature/TanteiTeamKZJikenNote series. After several years of TimeSkip, Aya's mother mentioned she wants Aya to marry off to one of her [[ReverseHarem male friends]] that Aya herself [[ObliviousToLove stills considers]] as JustFriends. In the ensuing conversation, the mother mentioned an advantage of marrying [[TheSmartGuy Uesugi]] is "his genes."

* ''Literature/VillainessLevel99IMayBeTheHiddenBossButImNotTheDemonLord'': A lot of world renowned and prestigious families want to have their sons marry Yumiella due to her incredible power due to being level 99 in a world where the next highest level is 60. Yumiella, wanting nothing to do with such squabbles, claims any potential suitors must BestHerToBedHer to get them off her back.

* This is pretty much everyone's modus operandi in ''Film/{{Gattaca}}.'' It's an interesting case because sentimental partners are chosen based on how good their genes are, even though couples (who were both already DesignerBabies) would frequently repeat the process on their children, making such genetic discrimination either purely social or as a sign of continued financial success.

They can be very ethical about their interest, but the creepy factor of this trope can be played up if they’re also an EvilutionaryBiologist or SocialDarwinist. Even if they’re neither of those, some characters aren’t above acting like a StalkerWithATestTube if their intended partner refuses to marry or mate with them. DarwinistDesire can manifest in both individuals or [[PlanetOfHats entire cultures/species]], and while some depictions of this trope involve mating the "old fashioned way", LegoGenetics and GattacaBabies aren't off the table. The preference may be dictated either because of culture (valuing "true" natural selection, for example) or because of a pragmatic lack of (mad) science skills. It's also worth noting that DarwinistDesire can be broadly or narrowly focused on traits; some may favor overall fitness, or specific traits like physical ability, beauty, intelligence, or even nose size.

[[folder:Fanfic]]

* That's pretty much everyone's modus operandi in ''Film/{{Gattaca}}.'' It’s an interesting case because sentimental partners are chosen based on how good their genes are, even though couples (who were both already designer babies) would frequently repeat the process on their children, making such genetic discrimination either purely social or as a sign of continued financial success.
* In ''Film/TheInventionOfLying'' has marriage be based only on this. The romantic interest is struggling with picking between this trope and her love of the protagonist. [[spoiler: She chooses love, [[FridgeLogic but if you think about it, being the only person able to lie is a pretty big Darwinian advantage.]] ]]

* In ''Film/ThePrivateLifeOfSherlockHolmes'', the ballerina Madame Petrova tries to get Holmes to contribute his DNA to her children, hoping their offspring with have her physical advantages and his mental advantages.

* There's an urban myth that Marilyn Monroe (or Isadora Duncan, or Sara Bernhardt, depending on who's telling the story) once propositioned Albert Einstein (or George Bernard Shaw, or Groucho Marx) with the question: "Don't you think that with my looks and your brains, we should have the most wonderful children?" Albert/George/Groucho responded, "But what if they were born with ''my'' looks and ''your'' brains?'."

[[folder:Web Comics]]

* In ''Film/ThePrivateLifeOfSherlockHolmes, the ballerina Madame Petrova tries to get Holmes to contribute his DNA to her children, hoping their offspring with have her physical advantages and his mental advantages.

[[folder:Anime and Manga]]

* In ''Literature/TheIrregularAtMagicHighSchool'', a magician's family chooses their spouse, and usually their choice is based on who will strengthen the Clan's bloodline. This causes a lot of unrest among the younger generation of magicians, but some genuinely buy into their parents' philosophy.
* ''LIterature/HighSchoolDXD'' has this as the starting point for several members of Issei's harem, such as Xenovia and Kuroka due to his status as a dragon. While a future children set series of stories do prove that having very strong children is quite achievable both gain reasons to be attracted to Issei beyond strong children as part of the story.
* In ''Manga/KenganAshura'', the Kure Clan are able to keep their line filled with powerful fighters due to selecting exemplary physical specimens for mates. This is also the reason why Karla Kure is completely obsessed with Ohma as she sees him as someone who can grant her a powerful heir.

* ''Comicbook/AvatarTheLastAirbenderTheSearch'' revealed that Prince Ozai [[ArrangedMarriage only married]] Ursa because Fire Lord Azulon and the Fire Sages believed that combining the bloodlines of Avatar Roku and Fire Lord Sozin would produce powerful firebending offsprings for the Royal Family.

* Maxima from the DC Comics ''Franchise/{{Superman}}'' titles. She is known for searching for mates among Earth's superpowered male population; as a result, Superman becomes her obsession.
* ''ComicBook/RedRobin'': The Daughters of Acheron kidnap Tim so that the elder of them can [[ConceiveAndKill rape and kill him]] after she decides he's unknowingly proven himself to have what she wants in the male genetic donor of her progeny and fit the requirements for the sacrifice she's been looking to make for years in order to gain more mystic powers.
* ComicBook/ShangChi's ArchnemesisDad made sure to choose a woman with powerful genes as the boy's mother.
* [[ComicBook/Batgirl2000 Cassandra Cain]] from Franchise/{{Batman}} is the product of this trope. David Cain sought out ComicBook/LadyShiva to have a child solely to be able to raise the strongest assassin in the world.
* The titular villain of the ''ComicBook/TheAttackOfTheAnnihilator'' storyline wanted ComicBook/{{Batgirl}} as his partner to repopulate Gotham City, seeing her as a good complement to his enhanced intellect and psychic abilities.

* ''Fanfic/PokemonResetBloodlines'' has Ash's Father, who sired Ash specifically because Delia is a descendant of Sir Aaron, and thus their child would be very powerful. He waited years for Delia to be born, as the lineage came from Delia's father. At the same time, he tracked down ''hundreds'' of other women across the world with RecessiveSuperGenes like Delia for the same purpose.
* After usurping Equestria's throne in ''Fanfic/LovedAndLost'', [[BigBad Prince Jewelius]] plans to marry [[CorruptTheCutie Twilight Sparkle]], expecting the powerful unicorn to bear him powerful offspring who'll continue his legacy. He [[JustBetweenYouAndMe admits to Twilight's imprisoned friends and brother]] that were he to find an even more powerful unicorn mare, then [[MakeItLookLikeAnAccident he might get rid of Twilight through an "accident"]] so that he can marry the other mare.
* Another example from a ''WesternAnimation/MyLittlePonyFriendshipIsMagic'' fic: Early in "Alicornundrum", from FanFic/RealityChecksNyxverse, Lord Blueblood attempts to get newly coronated Princess Twilight Sparkle and Prince Blueblood into an ArrangedMarriage so that "a proper, rightful ruler-- one of unicorn blood-- will be on the throne", which also means that they can disregard [[Fanfic/PastSins Nyx]] as a member of royalty. [[DidntThinkThisThrough This goes pear-shaped before it can even begin]], courtesy of [[RebelliousPrincess Twilight]], [[MamaBear her]] [[PapaWolf parents]], [[BigGood Princess Celestia]], ''and'' [[MinionWithAnFInEvil Prince]] [[EvenEvilHasStandards Blueblood]] all taking offense to this idea on various levels. Besides which, as Celestia points out in justified fury, the contract itself would've been illegal if Lord Blueblood tried to take it to court, whereupon he would've been convicted of contractual fraud, blackmail, statutory rape, pony trafficking, and treason against the Crown Princesses of Equestria.

* In ''FanFic/WishCarefully'', after Harry Potter and his friends are able to prove to the rest of the global magical community what a load of bullcrap Pureblood Superiority is via showing how the Death Eaters' obsession with blood purity has led to inbreeding that is resulting in GenerationalMagicDecline with more Squibs being born in each succeeding generation (and the few magic users there are being so weak that they can't complete the traditional seventh-year courses at Hogwarts), magically powerful Muggleborns are being sought out as spouses for other Purebloods around the world who are looking to keep their bloodlines from becoming "too pure".

* In ''Fanfic/{{Witchcraft}}'', Giovanni had Silver with Ariana because she was an [[TheAce exemplary member of Team Rocket]] who showed all the positive traits a Team Rocket agent, or even leader, should have.

* That's pretty much everyone's modus operandi in ''Film/{{Gattaca}}.'' It’s an interesting case because sentimental partners are chosen based on how good their genes are, even though couples (who were both already designer babies) would frequently repeat the process on their children, making such genetic discrimination either purely social or as a sign of continued financial success.

* The early days of the Howard Families (from Creator/RobertHeinlein's works) were pretty much "your family is long-lived, my family is long-lived, let's have long-lived kids together and get the money offered by the Foundation". In ''Literature/TimeEnoughForLove'' Lazarus Long, [[TheOlderImmortal the oldest human on record]], finds that there's still a bit of that attitude among the Howards when several women (most of whom are his descendants) ask to bear his children.
* In ''Literature/DigitalFortress'', Hale has a few thoughts along these lines (feeling that the protagonist's genes would be wasted on her LoveInterest while if he had children with her they would be "perfect"). Amongst other signs, he's a {{jerkass}}.
* The all-female dryads in ''Franchise/TheWitcher'' series mate only with (human) men whose genes will strengthen their race. This also makes them utterly uninterested in getting it on with the eponymous witchers, who are all sterile (although Geralt can woo a dryad in ''VideoGame/TheWitcher'' game by pointing out that sex is good for health, too).
* In ''Literature/FalseMemory'', by Creator/DeanKoontz, this is Claudette's reason for choosing [[spoiler:Mark Ahriman]] to impregnate her with her first child when her then-husband proves infertile. She didn't like the sperm donor as a person but loved his genes. Unfortunately for the baby, she was born with trisomy 21 (Down Syndrome) [[spoiler:and was [[OffingTheOffspring murdered by her mother]]]]. The grudge between the bio-parents of the ill-fated infant is still affecting the lives and in some cases deaths of those in contact with either decades later.
* In ''Literature/{{Masques}}'', the BigBad, among other misdeeds, rapes a [[spoiler: shapeshifter]] woman, in order to use the resulting child for his evil plans. [[spoiler: His end goal is to achieve immortality, for which he needs the shifter's superior healing ability.]]

* Also noted in E.E. Doc Smith's Literature/{{Lensman}} series. In ''Galactic Patrol'' our hero's commanders assign him attractive nurses while he recuperates. The goal is to create an even better person if he should reproduce. Interestingly, the attractiveness they look for isn't just skin deep:
-->''"Look at that skeleton!"''
* Somehow PlayedForLaughs in a spinoff of the Literature/TanteiTeamKZJikenNote series. After several years of TimeSkip, Aya's mother mentioned she wants Aya to marry off to one of her [[ReverseHarem male friends]] that Aya herself [[ObliviousToLove stills considers]] as JustFriends. In the ensuing conversation, the mother mentioned an advantage of marrying [[TheSmartGuy Uesugi]] is "his genes."
* In ''Literature/DarthPlagueis'', Darth Tenebrous had one of his agents seduce a Force-sensitive businessman, predicting that their child would be strong in the Force and would thus make an ideal apprentice. That child would grow up to be the titular Plagueis.
* ''Literature/VillainessLevel99IMayBeTheHiddenBossButImNotTheDemonLord'': A lot of world renowned and prestigious families want to have their sons marry Yumiella due to her incredible power due to being level 99 in a world where the next highest level is 60. Yumiella, wanting nothing to do with such squabbles, claims any potential suitors must BestHerToBedHer to get them off her back.

* In ''Series/{{Bones}},'' Dr. Brennan initially justified her interest in having a child with Booth by claiming he possessed favorable genetic traits that would complement her own, she later decided she wanted to have a baby via IVF and decided that Booth had the best genes for it. Then the plan went by the wayside when Booth was diagnosed with an early-stage brain tumor. [[spoiler: They end up having sex, with Bones accidentally getting pregnant and have a daughter. Later they also have a second child after getting married.]]
* A made for TV Skiffy movie about a post-disaster society had as one of the gimmicks colored patches one wore to indicate which partners would make good genetic matches with the expectation that one would mate within one's color grouping.

* G'Kar proposes this to Leeta in ''Series/BabylonFive'', on the grounds that their children might create the first Narn telepaths. Given that G'Kar is later indicated to have a fetish for human women, however, his goals were probably more than purely Darwinian.
* ''Series/BetterOffTed'': In one episode Viridian Dynamics attempts to invoke this by publishing a list of "most genetically compatible employees", though their main motivation is preventing employees from taxing the health plan with unhealthy babies, and most pairs prove to have less-compatible personalities.

* The salarians in ''Franchise/MassEffect'' keep records of their family's genetic pedigree for exactly this reason. Their species doesn't really connect the concept of sexual desire with reproduction, since, as amphibians, they reproduce via external fertilization.
* One viable strategy in ''VideoGame/CrusaderKings''. When looking for a husband or wife [[ArrangedMarriage (either for you or for your children)]], many players forgo looking for alliances or prestige. Instead, they look for partners with good genetic traits, genius being the most sought after. [[TakeAThirdOption Of course, it's not impossible to find a partner with good traits, prestige, and a good alliance.]]

* In ''Videogame/AssassinsCreedOdyssey'', this is the [[AuthorsSavingThrow reasoning]] given by developers as to why a Misthios would end up conceiving a child with the designated love interest in the "Legacy of the First Blade" DLC [[ButThouMust regardless of player choice]]: Since said love interest was of a strong [[{{Precursors}} Isu]] genetic lineage, the Misthios decided that they were obligated to further said genetic destiny. [[spoiler:This very line of thinking was also responsible for the Misthios' own parentage, as their true father is Pythagoras, who bore a child with the daughter of Leonidas I due to her family's DNA]].

* Historically, eugenics has been associated with racist pseudoscience for a good reason--it is nothing ''but'' racist pseudoscience (with a dash of dehumanization for the disabled thrown in also). Prior to the mapping of the human genome, there was no scientific basis for any of it beyond "we don't like people who look like you". And now that the genome has been mapped, we know that it is far too complex to be amenable to the eugenicists' [[LegoGenetics tinkertoy concepts of how inheritance works]] and virtually no one is "pure" anything due to a lot of undocumented variability (e.g. screwing around) in even the most documented royal pedigrees. And this impureness, it should be stressed once again, is a ''good'' thing. "[[RoyalInbreeding Keeping the bloodline pure]]" - and dynastic marriages - ultimately produced such genetic defects as the [[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Prognathism#Mandibular_prognathism_.28progenism.29 "Habsburg jaw"]] or the [[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Haemophilia_in_European_royalty extreme prevalence of hemophilia]] in the royal houses of Europe just before UsefulNotes/WorldWarI and in UsefulNotes/AncientEgypt "keeping the bloodline pure" was even used as justification for royal BrotherSisterIncest. Moreover, ultimately humans have the same ancestry, and thus none can be called "pure" white say (we all descend from African ancestors if you go back far enough).

* ''Literature/VillainessLevel99IMayBeTheHiddenBossButImNotTheDemonLord'': A lot of world renowned and prestigious families want to have their sons marry Yumiella due to her incredible power due to being level 99 in a world where the next highest level is 60. Yumiella, wanting nothing to do with such squabbles, claims any potential suitors must BestHerToBedHer to get them off her back.

* ''Literature/AkuyakuReijouLevel99WatashiWaUraBossDesuGaMaouDeWaArimasen'': A lot of world renowned and prestigious families want to have their sons marry Yumiela due to her incredible power due to beling level 99 in a world where the next highest level is 60. Yumiela, wanting nothing to do with such squabbles, claims any potential suitors must BestHerToBedHer to get them off her back.

* In ''LightNovel/TheIrregularAtMagicHighSchool'', a magician's family chooses their spouse, and usually their choice is based on who will strengthen the Clan's bloodline. This causes a lot of unrest among the younger generation of magicians, but some genuinely buy into their parents' philosophy.
* ''LightNovel/HighSchoolDXD'' has this as the starting point for several members of Issei's harem, such as Xenovia and Kuroka due to his status as a dragon. While a future children set series of stories do prove that having very strong children is quite achievable both gain reasons to be attracted to Issei beyond strong children as part of the story.

* ''LightNovel/AkuyakuReijouLevel99WatashiWaUraBossDesuGaMaouDeWaArimasen'': A lot of world renowned and prestigious families want to have their sons marry Yumiela due to her incredible power due to beling level 99 in a world where the next highest level is 60. Yumiela, wanting nothing to do with such squabbles, claims any potential suitors must BestHerToBedHer to get them off her back.

* ''Wiki/SCPFoundation'': [[http://scp-int.wikidot.com/scp-es-091 SCP-ES-091]] it is a small abandoned town in the south of Chile where "something", possibly paranormal, affects people with high intelligence and good genes, prompting them to have sexual relations with each other. On the other hand, people with low intelligence and/or who carry a genetic defect instead receive strong suicidal impulses.