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Genetic similarity and mate selection in Uruguay

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  31 July 2008

M. Sans
Affiliation:
Department of Anthropology, School of Humanities and Sciences of Education, University of the Republic, Montevideo, Uruguay
I. Alvarez
Affiliation:
National Bank of Organs and Tissues, Clinical Hospital Dr Manuel Quintela, Montevideo, Uruguay
S. M. Callegari-Jacques
Affiliation:
Statistics Department, Institute of Mathematics, Federal University of Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre, Brazil Genetics Department, Biosciences Institute, Federal University of Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre, Brazil
F. M. Salzano
Affiliation:
Genetics Department, Biosciences Institute, Federal University of Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre, Brazil

Summary

It has been suggested that average genetic similarity, as assessed by blood genetic markers, could influence mate choice in humans. In the present study, average genetic similarity was assessed in 183 couples submitting to paternity determinations in relation to six blood group systems and three HLA loci. Couples in which the putative father was excluded were compared with those in which such exclusion did not occur, and real couples were compared to random pairs. The differences were all statistically non-significant. Possible reasons for the different results found in the previous sample and in the present study are considered.

Type
Research Article
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 1994

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