Major Histocompatibility Complexes - A Genetic Clue To Why Opposites Attract In Human Mate Selection
Sunday, May 24, 2009 - 20:28
in Biology & Nature
Professor Maria da Graça Bicalho, head of the Immunogenetics and Histocompatibility Laboratory at the University of Parana, Brazil, told the annual conference of the European Society of Human Genetics that people with diverse major histocompatibility complexes (MHCs) were more likely to choose each other as mates than those whose MHCs were similar, and that this was likely to be an evolutionary strategy to ensure healthy reproduction. Yes, opposites attract. Even genetically. The MHC is a large genetic region situated on chromosome 6, and found in most vertebrates. It plays an important role in the immune system and also in reproductive success. Apart from being a large region, it is also an extraordinarily diverse one. read more
Read the whole article on Scientific Blogging
More from Scientific Blogging
Related
- Opposites attract -- how genetics influences humans to choose their matesSun, 24 May 2009, 18:42:30 EDT
- Is love at first sight real? Geneticists offer tantalizing cluesTue, 7 Apr 2009, 14:22:26 EDT
- New findings on immune system in amphibiansThu, 19 Jun 2008, 11:35:50 EDT
- Past religious diversity and intolerance have profound impact on genetics of Iberian peopleThu, 4 Dec 2008, 12:42:18 EST
- Will IVF work for a particular patient? The answer may be found in her bloodWed, 1 Jul 2009, 5:15:41 EDT