MHC genotype and male ornamentation: Genetic evidence for the Hamilton-Zuk model

The major histocompatibility complex (MHC) is an immunologically important cluster of highly variable genes that is known to affect fitness in domesticated mammals and birds. Spur length of male pheasants in southern Sweden correlates with male viability, female mate choice, and offspring survival r...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Proceedings of the Royal Society of London. Series B: Biological Sciences
Main Authors: von Schantz, Torbjörn, Wittzell, Håkan, Göransson, Görgen, Grahn, Mats, Persson, Kerstin
Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
Language:English
Published: Royal Society Publishing 1996
Subjects:
Biological Sciences
branta-leucopsis
barnacle goose
sexual selection
preferences
mating
phasianus-colchicus
major histocompatibility complex
evolution
viability
pheasant
haplotypes
Barnacle goose
Branta leucopsis
Online Access:https://lup.lub.lu.se/record/1747854
https://doi.org/10.1098/rspb.1996.0041
Description
Summary:The major histocompatibility complex (MHC) is an immunologically important cluster of highly variable genes that is known to affect fitness in domesticated mammals and birds. Spur length of male pheasants in southern Sweden correlates with male viability, female mate choice, and offspring survival rate. Here we show by genetic analyses that the MHC genotype is associated with variation in both male spur length and male viability. These are the first data that directly support a 'good genes' hypothesis by Hamilton and Zuk predicting that females discriminate among males on the basis of secondary sexual characters in order to pass on genes for disease resistance that improve fitness in their offspring.

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