Genetic opposites attract
Recall that HCGS — a region with one of the highest densities of gene localization — is found in almost all vertebrates and plays an important role in the development of immunity; in humans, it is located on chromosome 6. Previously, the effect of HCGS on the formation of the reproductive strategy of females was shown by the example of many species of vertebrates.
Brazilian researchers analyzed data on the structures of HCGS in 90 married couples, and then compared the collected information with the indicators of 152 "control" pairs formed randomly. "If the genes of HCGS did not influence the choice of a partner, we would get approximately the same values in both cases," explains the lead author of the work Maria da Graça Bicalho (Maria da Graça Bicalho). "However, the spouses, as it turned out, have significantly more differences in the structure of the HCGS than the average population."
This principle of choosing partners, scientists explain, reduces the danger of endogamy (marriage within a certain social group), and also contributes to the appearance of more "diverse" offspring in genetic terms. The HCGS effect, therefore, can be considered as one of the evolutionary mechanisms that prevents cases of incest and regulates the immune system.
"We plan to continue research in this direction, to study the relationship of social and cultural sources of influence on reproductive strategy with genetic differences in the field of HCGS," says Ms. Bicallo. — Of course, we are not going to claim that specific genetic structures determine human behavior; the cultural aspect plays a big role in choosing a partner, and this is obvious. However, our work proves that the unconscious, evolutionary mechanism should not be discounted."
Prepared based on the materials of EurekAlert!.
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