Sexual selection is strongly associated with MHC diversity across mammals

What is it about?

This study provides support for both parasite-mediated selection and sexual selection in shaping variation in functional MHC polymorphism across a broad suite of mammals, and importantly, suggests that sexual selection may have a more general role than previously thought. Broadly, these results demonstrate that increased promiscuity is associated with greater immune genetic diversity across species.

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Why is it important?

Understanding the importance of sexual selection has practical value for those working to conserve rare and endangered species. These results suggest that the current practice of random assignment of mates for conservation genetic programs might be less than optimal for maintaining variability at functionally important immune genes and that employing some opportunity for mate choice could be more effective.