Major histocompatibility complex-associated odour preferences and human mate choice: near and far horizons
The result's identifiers
Result code in IS VaVaI
<a href="https://www.isvavai.cz/riv?ss=detail&h=RIV%2F00216208%3A11310%2F20%3A10416328" target="_blank" >RIV/00216208:11310/20:10416328 - isvavai.cz</a>
Result on the web
<a href="https://verso.is.cuni.cz/pub/verso.fpl?fname=obd_publikace_handle&handle=d0HfFsceC7" target="_blank" >https://verso.is.cuni.cz/pub/verso.fpl?fname=obd_publikace_handle&handle=d0HfFsceC7</a>
DOI - Digital Object Identifier
<a href="http://dx.doi.org/10.1098/rstb.2019.0260" target="_blank" >10.1098/rstb.2019.0260</a>
Alternative languages
Result language
angličtina
Original language name
Major histocompatibility complex-associated odour preferences and human mate choice: near and far horizons
Original language description
The major histocompatibility complex (MHC) is a core part of the adaptive immune system. As in other vertebrate taxa, it may also affect human chemical communication via odour-based mate preferences, with greater attraction towards MHC-dissimilar partners. However, despite some well-known findings, the available evidence is equivocal and made complicated by varied approaches to quantifying human mate choice. To address this, we here conduct comprehensive meta-analyses focusing on studies assessing: (i) genomic mate selection, (ii) relationship satisfaction, (iii) odour preference, and (iv) all studies combined. Analysis of genomic studies reveals no association between MHC-dissimilarity and mate choice in actual couples; however, MHC effects appear to be independent of the genomic background. The effect of MHC-dissimilarity on relationship satisfaction was not significant, and we found evidence for publication bias in studies on this area. There was also no significant association between MHC-dissimilarity and odour preferences. Finally, combining effect sizes from all genomic, relationship satisfaction, odour preference and previous mate choice studies into an overall estimate showed no overall significant effect of MHC-similarity on human mate selection. Based on these findings, we make a set of recommendations for future studies, focusing both on aspects that should be implemented immediately and those that lurk on the far horizon. We need larger samples with greater geographical and cultural diversity that control for genome-wide similarity. We also need more focus on mechanisms of MHC-associated odour preferences and on MHC-associated pregnancy loss. This article is part of the Theo Murphy meeting issue 'Olfactory communication in humans'.
Czech name
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Czech description
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Classification
Type
J<sub>imp</sub> - Article in a specialist periodical, which is included in the Web of Science database
CEP classification
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OECD FORD branch
10600 - Biological sciences
Result continuities
Project
<a href="/en/project/GA18-15168S" target="_blank" >GA18-15168S: Effect of parental characteristics on mate choice</a><br>
Continuities
P - Projekt vyzkumu a vyvoje financovany z verejnych zdroju (s odkazem do CEP)
Others
Publication year
2020
Confidentiality
S - Úplné a pravdivé údaje o projektu nepodléhají ochraně podle zvláštních právních předpisů
Data specific for result type
Name of the periodical
Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society B: Biological Sciences
ISSN
0962-8436
e-ISSN
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Volume of the periodical
375
Issue of the periodical within the volume
1800
Country of publishing house
GB - UNITED KINGDOM
Number of pages
15
Pages from-to
20190260
UT code for WoS article
000528888100002
EID of the result in the Scopus database
2-s2.0-85085065606