Is promiscuity associated with enhanced selection on MHC-DQα in mice (genus Peromyscus)?

ABSTRACT: Reproductive behavior may play an important role in shaping selection on Major Histocompatibility Complex (MHC) genes. For example, the number of sexual partners that an individual has may affect exposure to sexually transmitted pathogens, with more partners leading to greater exposure and, hence, potentially greater selection for variation at MHC loci. To explore this hypothesis, we examined the strength of selection on exon 2 of the MHC-DQα locus in two species of Peromyscus. While the California mouse (P. californicus) is characterized by lifetime social and genetic monogamy, the deer mouse (P. maniculatus) is socially and genetically promiscuous; consistent with these differences in mating behavior, the diversity of bacteria present within the reproductive tracts of females is signific

SUBMITTER: MacManes MD 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC3359288 | biostudies-literature | 2012

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature