Sequence variations at the human leukocyte antigen-linked olfactory receptor cluster do not influence female preferences for male odors.
We previously reported that paternally inherited human leukocyte antigen (HLA) alleles are a template for women's preferences for male odors (p = 0.0007). However, it has been suggested that sequence variation in a nearby olfactory receptor (OR) cluster on chromosome 6p influences smell preference. To determine whether the HLA-linked OR genes contribute to previously observed HLA-mediated behaviors, we use the odor preference data from our earlier study in combination with a new resequencing study of four functional, HLA-linked OR genes in the same subjects. Our results indicate that OR alleles in the genes surveyed are not in linkage disequilibrium with HLA variation and do not explain the previous findings of HLA-associated odor preference.
Thompson
Emma E
EE
Department of Human Genetics, The University of Chicago, Chicago, Illinois, USA. eethomps@uchicago.edu
Haller
Gabe
G
Pinto
Jayant M
JM
Sun
Ying
Y
Zelano
Bethanne
B
Jacob
Suma
S
McClintock
Martha K
MK
Nicolae
Dan L
DL
Ober
Carole
C
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001483:Base Sequence; D002896:Chromosomes, Human, Pair 6; D005260:Female; D008040:Genetic Linkage; D006680:HLA Antigens / Q000235:genetics* / Q000276:immunology; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D005810:Multigene Family; D055696:Olfactory Perception; D049049:Pheromones, Human / Q000378:metabolism; D020641:Polymorphism, Single Nucleotide; D018035:Receptors, Odorant / Q000235:genetics*; D012727:Sex Characteristics; D055815:Young Adult
D006680:HLA Antigens; D049049:Pheromones, Human; D018035:Receptors, Odorant