Premium
Hormonal evidence of selection in utero revisited
Author(s) -
Catalano R.A.,
Currier R.J.,
Steinsaltz D.
Publication year - 2014
Publication title -
american journal of human biology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.559
H-Index - 81
eISSN - 1520-6300
pISSN - 1042-0533
DOI - 10.1002/ajhb.22655
Subject(s) - in utero , abortion , fetus , gestation , selection (genetic algorithm) , gestational age , pregnancy , psychology , obstetrics , medicine , biology , genetics , artificial intelligence , computer science
Objectives Human conception cohorts in gestation during stressful times reportedly yield lower ratios of male to female live births than do other conception cohorts. Much literature attributes this phenomenon to spontaneous abortion of less fit male fetuses. Controversy remains, however, as to whether stressful times make males fetuses less fit (“Shifting Distribution” of fitness) or whether male fetuses need greater fitness to avoid spontaneous abortion during stressful times (“Shifting Criterion” for survival). Methods Although research using gestational hCG as a signal of fetal fitness reports support for the latter mechanism, we believe an analytic error casts doubt on those findings. Here we offered an alternative test that corrects the error. Conclusion This more accurate test found similar results to those originally reported. Am. J. Hum. Biol. 27:426–431, 2015. © 2014 The Authors American Journal of Human Biology Published by Wiley Periodicals, Inc.