Correlation of Intergenerational Family Sizes Suggests a Genetic Component of Reproductive Fitness
| Autor: | Daniel K. Nolan, Anna Pluzhnikov, Mary Sara McPeek, Zhiqiang Tan, Carole Ober |
|---|---|
| Rok vydání: | 2007 |
| Předmět: |
Adult
Male media_common.quotation_subject Population Fertility Biology White People Correlation Resampling Report Genetics Humans Genetics(clinical) education Nuclear family Genetics (clinical) media_common Estimation education.field_of_study Family Characteristics Reproductive success Reproduction Family Sizes Pedigree Intergenerational Relations Female Demography |
| Zdroj: | The American Journal of Human Genetics. 81(1):165-169 |
| ISSN: | 0002-9297 |
| DOI: | 10.1086/518446 |
| Popis: | Reproductive fitness is a complex phenotype that is a direct measure of Darwinian selection. Estimation of the genetic contribution to this phenotype in human populations is confounded by within-family correlations of sociocultural, economic, and other nongenetic factors that influence family sizes. Here, we report an intergenerational correlation in reproductive success in the Hutterites, a human population that is relatively homogeneous with respect to sociocultural factors that influence fertility. We introduce an estimator of this correlation that takes into account the presence of multiple parent-offspring pairs from the same nuclear family. Statistical significance of the estimated correlation is assessed by a permutation test that maintains the overall structure of the pedigree. Further, temporal trends in fertility within this population are accounted for. Applying these methods to the S-Leut Hutterites yields a correlation in effective family size of 0.29 between couples and their sons and 0.18 between couples and their daughters, with empirical P −6 and P =.0041, respectively. Similar results were obtained for completed families (0.31 between couples and their sons and 0.23 between couples and their daughters; empirical P −6 and P =.00059, respectively). We interpret these results as indicating a significant genetic component to reproductive fitness in the Hutterites. |
| Databáze: | OpenAIRE |
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