HLA and mate selection: no evidence in South Amerindians.
There have been reports of nonrandom mating (negative-assortative mating) or preference for individuals of different major histocompatibility complex (MHC) genotypes in both mice and humans. We have examined the association of HLA-A and HLA-B genotypes, both for each locus by itself and for two-locus genotypes, in mates of 194 couples from 11 South Amerindian tribes. The proportion of couples sampled averaged >50% of the total matings with progeny for 10 of the tribes. In nearly all cases, HLA-sharing proportions were very close to those expected from random mating, suggesting strong negative-assortative mating for MHC is not present in these South Amerindians.
Hedrick
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PW
Department of Biology, Arizona State University, Tempe 85287-1501, USA. hedrick@hedricklab.la.asu.edu
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D005260:Female; D005787:Gene Frequency; D005838:Genotype; D015234:HLA-A Antigens / Q000235:genetics*; D015235:HLA-B Antigens / Q000235:genetics*; D006801:Humans; D007199:Indians, South American; D008297:Male; D008393:Marriage / Q000208:ethnology*
D015234:HLA-A Antigens; D015235:HLA-B Antigens