Skip to main content

Thank you for visiting nature.com. You are using a browser version with limited support for CSS. To obtain the best experience, we recommend you use a more up to date browser (or turn off compatibility mode in Internet Explorer). In the meantime, to ensure continued support, we are displaying the site without styles and JavaScript.

Mothers determine sexual preferences

Abstract

The extent to which behaviour is determined by ‘nurture’ as opposed to ‘nature’ in mammals is controversial, although most recent interest has focused on genetic determinants. Here we investigate maternal influences on behavioural development by using the approach of cross-fostering between sheep and goats, which, like ourselves, form close individual attachment bonds with their offspring. We show that the emotional bond between a mother and her male offspring, rather than other social or genetic factors, may irreversibly determine these species' social and sexual preferences. Maternal influences on female offspring are weaker and totally reversible. In both sexes, visual cues from the face are important for determining attraction.

This is a preview of subscription content, access via your institution

Access options

Rent or buy this article

Prices vary by article type

from$1.95

to$39.95

Prices may be subject to local taxes which are calculated during checkout

Figure 1: Maternal influence on mating choices.
Figure 2: Mean±s.

References

  1. Lorenz, K. J. Ornithol. 83, 137-213 & 289-413 (1935).

  2. Immelmann, K. Z. Tierpsychol. 26, 677–691 (1969).

    Google Scholar 

  3. ten Cate, C. in Perspectives in Ethology Vol. 8 (eds Bateson, P. P. G. & Klopfer, P. H.) 243-269 (Cambridge Univ. Press, New York, 1989).

  4. Fujita, K. Primates 34, 141–150 (1993).

    Google Scholar 

  5. Kendrick, K. M., da Costa, A. P., Hinton, M. R. & Keverne, E. B. Appl. Anim. Behav. Sci. 34, 345–357 (1992).

    Google Scholar 

  6. Kendrick, K. M., Atkins, K., Hinton, M. R., Heavens, P. & Keverne, E. B. Behav. Proc. 38, 19–35 (1996).

    Google Scholar 

  7. Kendrick, K. M. & Baldwin, B. A. Science 236, 448–450 (1987).

    Google Scholar 

  8. Bateson, P. Nature 273, 659–660 (1978).

    Article  ADS  CAS  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Kendrick, K., Hinton, M., Atkins, K. et al. Mothers determine sexual preferences. Nature 395, 229–230 (1998). https://doi.org/10.1038/26129

Download citation

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/26129

This article is cited by

Comments

By submitting a comment you agree to abide by our Terms and Community Guidelines. If you find something abusive or that does not comply with our terms or guidelines please flag it as inappropriate.

Search

Quick links

Nature Briefing

Sign up for the Nature Briefing newsletter — what matters in science, free to your inbox daily.

Get the most important science stories of the day, free in your inbox. Sign up for Nature Briefing