Non-random mate choice in humans: Insights from a genome scan
Abstract
Little is known about the genetic factors influencing mate choice in humans. Still, there is evidence for non-random mate choice with respect to physical traits. In addition, some studies suggest that the Major Histocompatibility Complex may affect pair formation. Nowadays, the availability of high density genomic data sets gives the opportunity to scan the genome for signatures of non-random mate choice without prior assumptions on which genes may be involved, while taking into account socio-demographic factors. Here, we performed a genome scan to detect extreme patterns of similarity or dissimilarity among spouses throughout the genome in three populations of African, European American, and Mexican origins from the HapMap 3 database. Our analyses identified genes and biological functions that may affect pair formation in humans, including genes involved in skin appearance, morphogenesis, immunity and behaviour. We found little overlap between the three populations, suggesting that the biological functions potentially influencing mate choice are population specific, in other words are culturally driven. Moreover, whenever the same functional category of genes showed a significant signal in two populations, different genes were actually involved, which suggests the possibility of evolutionary convergences.
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Attraction and mate choice in humans is subjective and often further influenced by socio-cultural expectations for relationships, early life experiences, and previous relationship experiences.
“Importantly, attraction and mate choice in humans is subjective and often further influenced by socio-cultural expectations for relationships, early life experiences, and previous relationship experiences [60,117,118].”
From The Neurobiology of Love and Pair Bonding from Human and Animal Perspectives (2023) · cites this paper as [117]
Attachment style, relationship history, and familial or cultural expectations work in tandem with neurobiological mechanisms to influence mate choice and romantic engagements.
“Attachment style, relationship history, and familial or cultural expectations work in tandem with neurobiological mechanisms to influence mate choice and romantic engagements [60,117,118,182].”
From The Neurobiology of Love and Pair Bonding from Human and Animal Perspectives (2023) · cites this paper as [117]
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The Neurobiology of Love and Pair Bonding from Human and Animal Perspectives
Blumenthal, S. A., & Young, L. J. (2023) · Biology · doi:10.3390/biology12060844 · Cited by 59 · see citing works
- Authors
- LAURENT, R., TOUPANCE, B., & CHAIX, R.
- Affiliations
- Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (FR)
- Corresponding author
- CHAIX, R.
- Venue
- Molecular Ecology
- Publisher
- Wiley
- Published
- 2011-11-28
- Volume
- 21
- Issue
- 3
- Pages
- 587-596
- ISSN
- 0962-1083 (ISSN-L)
- 1365-294X
- OpenAlex
- W1924707353
- Cited by
- 21
- References
- 40
- Citations by year
- 2023: 1 · 2019: 2 · 2018: 1 · 2017: 1 · 2016: 2 · 2015: 6 · 2014: 1 · 2013: 4 · 2012: 3
- FWCI
- 3.29
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- closed
- Licence
- Locations
- Molecular Ecology (publishedVersion)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- HAL (submittedVersion)
- Topics
- Social Sciences › Psychology › Experimental and Cognitive Psychology › Evolutionary Psychology and Human Behavior
- Life Sciences › Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology › Genetics › Forensic and Genetic Research
- Life Sciences › Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology › Genetics › Genetic Associations and Epidemiology
- Keywords
- human mate choice, genome scan, major histocompatibility complex, physical characteristics, skin appearance, morphogenesis, immunity, population differences, convergent evolution
- MeSH terms
- Choice Behavior, Female, Humans, Major Histocompatibility Complex, Male, Population, Sexual Behavior, Sexual Partners, Black People, White People, Genome-Wide Association Study, HapMap Project
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