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

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Author

Summary, in English

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.

Publishing year

1996

Language

English

Pages

265-271

Publication/Series

Royal Society of London. Proceedings B. Biological Sciences

Volume

263

Issue

1368

Document type

Journal article

Publisher

Royal Society Publishing

Topic

  • Biological Sciences

Keywords

  • branta-leucopsis
  • barnacle goose
  • sexual selection
  • preferences
  • mating
  • phasianus-colchicus
  • major histocompatibility complex
  • evolution
  • viability
  • pheasant
  • haplotypes

Status

Published

Project

  • Avian MHC genes

Research group

  • Molecular Ecology and Evolution Lab

ISBN/ISSN/Other

  • ISSN: 1471-2954