Genetic variation in the odorant receptors family 13 and the mhc loci influence mate selection in a multiple sclerosis dataset.
BACKGROUND
When selecting mates, many vertebrate species seek partners with major histocompatibility complex (MHC) genes different from their own, presumably in response to selective pressure against inbreeding and towards MHC diversity. Attempts at replication of these genetic results in human studies, however, have reached conflicting conclusions.


RESULTS
Using a multi-analytical strategy, we report validated genome-wide relationships between genetic identity and human mate choice in 930 couples of European ancestry. We found significant similarity between spouses in the MHC at class I region in chromosome 6p21, and at the odorant receptor family 13 locus in chromosome 9. Conversely, there was significant dissimilarity in the MHC class II region, near the HLA-DQA1 and -DQB1 genes. We also found that genomic regions with significant similarity between spouses show excessive homozygosity in the general population (assessed in the HapMap CEU dataset). Conversely, loci that were significantly dissimilar among spouses were more likely to show excessive heterozygosity in the general population.


CONCLUSIONS
This study highlights complex patterns of genomic identity among partners in unrelated couples, consistent with a multi-faceted role for genetic factors in mate choice behavior in human populations.
Department of Neurology, University of California, San Francisco, CA 94143-0435, USA.
Pouya
P
Khankhanian
Pierre-Antoine
PA
Gourraud
Stacy J
SJ
Caillier
Adam
A
Santaniello
Stephen L
SL
Hauser
Sergio E
SE
Baranzini
Jorge R
JR
Oksenberg
D000368:Aged; D000483:Alleles; D020029:Base Pairing / Q000235:genetics; D002899:Chromosomes, Human, Pair 9 / Q000235:genetics; D030541:Databases, Genetic; D005260:Female; D020022:Genetic Predisposition to Disease; D014644:Genetic Variation; D005828:Genetics, Population; D015894:Genome, Human / Q000235:genetics; D006680:HLA Antigens / Q000235:genetics; D006579:Heterozygote; D006720:Homozygote; D006801:Humans; D008285:Major Histocompatibility Complex / Q000235:genetics*; D008297:Male; D008393:Marriage; D009103:Multiple Sclerosis / Q000235:genetics*; D010290:Parents; D010802:Phylogeny; D020641:Polymorphism, Single Nucleotide / Q000235:genetics; D018035:Receptors, Odorant / Q000235:genetics*; D011995:Recombination, Genetic / Q000235:genetics; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D018454:Spouses
D006680:HLA Antigens; D018035:Receptors, Odorant