Unknown

Dataset Information

0

Absence of evidence for MHC-dependent mate selection within HapMap populations.


ABSTRACT: The major histocompatibility complex (MHC) of immunity genes has been reported to influence mate choice in vertebrates, and a recent study presented genetic evidence for this effect in humans. Specifically, greater dissimilarity at the MHC locus was reported for European-American mates (parents in HapMap Phase 2 trios) than for non-mates. Here we show that the results depend on a few extreme data points, are not robust to conservative changes in the analysis procedure, and cannot be reproduced in an equivalent but independent set of European-American mates. Although some evidence suggests an avoidance of extreme MHC similarity between mates, rather than a preference for dissimilarity, limited sample sizes preclude a rigorous investigation. In summary, fine-scale molecular-genetic data do not conclusively support the hypothesis that mate selection in humans is influenced by the MHC locus.

SUBMITTER: Derti A 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC2861700 | biostudies-literature | 2010 Apr

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature

altmetric image

Publications

Absence of evidence for MHC-dependent mate selection within HapMap populations.

Derti Adnan A   Cenik Can C   Kraft Peter P   Roth Frederick P FP  

PLoS genetics 20100429 4


The major histocompatibility complex (MHC) of immunity genes has been reported to influence mate choice in vertebrates, and a recent study presented genetic evidence for this effect in humans. Specifically, greater dissimilarity at the MHC locus was reported for European-American mates (parents in HapMap Phase 2 trios) than for non-mates. Here we show that the results depend on a few extreme data points, are not robust to conservative changes in the analysis procedure, and cannot be reproduced i  ...[more]

Similar Datasets

| S-EPMC5793204 | biostudies-literature
| S-EPMC6157678 | biostudies-literature
| S-EPMC2776599 | biostudies-literature
| S-EPMC3488212 | biostudies-literature
| S-EPMC2471876 | biostudies-literature
| S-EPMC5150237 | biostudies-literature
| S-EPMC4821651 | biostudies-literature
| S-EPMC3501496 | biostudies-literature
| S-EPMC2602703 | biostudies-literature
| S-EPMC8049082 | biostudies-literature