Nature Genetics36, 1203 - 1206 (2004)
Published online: 3 October 2004; | doi:10.1038/ng1445
Recombination rate and reproductive success in humans
Augustine Kong1, John Barnard2, Daniel F Gudbjartsson1, Gudmar Thorleifsson1, Gudrun Jonsdottir1, Sigrun Sigurdardottir1, Bjorgvin Richardsson1, Jonina Jonsdottir1, Thorgeir Thorgeirsson1, Michael L Frigge1, Neil E Lamb3, Stephanie Sherman3, Jeffrey R Gulcher1
& Kari Stefansson1
Intergenerational mixing of DNA through meiotic recombinations of homologous chromosomes during gametogenesis is a major event that generates diversity in the eukaryotic genome. We examined genome-wide microsatellite data for 23,066 individuals, providing information on recombination events of 14,140 maternal and paternal meioses each, and found a positive correlation between maternal recombination counts of an offspring and maternal age. We postulated that the recombination rate of eggs does not increase with maternal age, but that the apparent increase is the consequence of selection. Specifically, a high recombination count increased the chance of a gamete becoming a live birth, and this effect became more pronounced with advancing maternal age. Further support for this hypothesis came from our observation that mothers with high oocyte recombination rate tend to have more children. Hence, not only do recombinations have a role in evolution by yielding diverse combinations of gene variants for natural selection, but they are also under selection themselves.
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