%0 Journal Article
%A Sauermann, Ulrike
%A Nürnberg, Peter
%A Bercovitch, Fred
%A Berard, John
%A Trefilov, Andrea
%A Widdig, Anja
%A Kessler, Matt
%A Schmidtke, Jörg
%A Krawczak, Michael
%+ External Organizations
%T Increased reproductive success of MHC class II heterozygous males among free-ranging rhesus macaques : 
%G eng
%U https://hdl.handle.net/11858/00-001M-0000-002C-18CF-A
%R 10.1007/s004390100485
%D 2001
%* Review method: peer-reviewed
%X . Gene conversion and balancing selection have been invoked to explain the ubiquitous diversity of the antigen-presenting proteins encoded in the vertebrate major histocompatibility complex (MHC). In the present study, direct evidence for over-dominant selection promoting MHC diversity in primates is provided by the observation that, in a large free-ranging population of rhesus macaques, males heterozygous at MHC class II locus Mamu-DQB1 sired significantly more offspring than homozygotes (the male-specific selection coefficient s equals 0.34). This heterozygote advantage appeared to be independent of the actual male Mamu-DQB1 genotype. No similar effect emerged for a captive group of monkeys of similar genetic background but under veterinary care.
%J Human Genetics
%O Hum Genet
%V 108
%N 3
%& 249
%P 249 - 254
%@ 0340-67171432-1203