HLA AND SOCIAL BEHAVIOUR
Mate choice studies on rodents and other species usually find preference for HLA dissimilarity in potential partners. HLA-associated mate choice studies in humans are based on three broadly different aspects:
- Odour preferences
- Facial preferences
- Actual mate choice surveys
As in animal studies, most odour-based studies demonstrate disassortative preferences, although there is variation in the strength and nature of the effects. In contrast, facial attractiveness research indicates a preference for HLA-similar individuals. Results concerning HLA in actual couples show a bias towards similarity in one study, dissimilarity in two studies and random distribution in several other studies.
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