👉 The term "assortative" is a combination of two words, "assemblage," which refers to the process of combining elements or items in order to form something larger. This can refer to the arrangement or organization of various items together, such as arranging books on a shelf or putting things in groups. In the context of genetics and evolutionary biology, assortative mating is a type of sexual reproduction where two individuals mate with each other only if they share certain traits or characteristics. In other words