DO OUR immune systems help us select our partners? Perhaps.
The variety of 鈥淢HC鈥� genes an individual has determines the pathogens their immune system recognises. of the National Centre for Scientific Research in Paris, France, and colleagues wanted to see if people picked partners with different MHC genes to protect their offspring from extra pathogens.
In 30 Caucasian couples from Utah, MHC differences were greater than random, hinting that genetic differences influence partner selection. But this was not seen in 30 Yoruban couples in Nigeria, who may have greater MHC variety and so be under less evolutionary pressure to find a partner with different genes (PLoS Genetics, ).
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