Over the past several decades, scholars have conducted hundreds of studies investigating potential biomarkers of sexual orientation, such as genes, neuroanatomical features, and patterns of physiological response to sexual stimuli. The findings have been inconsistent: Biological measures sometimes converge with—but just as often diverge from—individuals' self-reported sexual attractions, behaviors, and identities. For example, numerous studies show that individuals' biological responses to erotic stimuli frequently diverge from their self-reported sexual identities and self-reported arousal to such stimuli. I argue that such cases of “biodivergence” warrant a shift in our conceptualization of sexual orientation, from seeing it as a singular and coherent phenotype to seeing it as a constellation of multiple biobehavioral patterns, with multiple and divergent causes and effects. I show that this perspective concords with recent findings from genetic research on sexual orientation, which show there is no single genotype underlying patterns of same-gender expression, and also concords with recent population data showing increasingly varied and fluid forms of sexual diversity around the globe that challenge the notion of sexual orientation as a singular and coherent sexual phenotype.
{"title":"Mining the Gaps: Rethinking Divergence Between Biological and Self-Report Measures in the Study of Sexual Diversity","authors":"Lisa M. Diamond","doi":"10.1002/ajhb.70201","DOIUrl":"10.1002/ajhb.70201","url":null,"abstract":"<p>Over the past several decades, scholars have conducted hundreds of studies investigating potential biomarkers of sexual orientation, such as genes, neuroanatomical features, and patterns of physiological response to sexual stimuli. The findings have been inconsistent: Biological measures sometimes converge with—but just as often <i>diverge from</i>—individuals' self-reported sexual attractions, behaviors, and identities. For example, numerous studies show that individuals' biological responses to erotic stimuli frequently diverge from their self-reported sexual identities <i>and</i> self-reported arousal to such stimuli. I argue that such cases of “biodivergence” warrant a shift in our conceptualization of sexual orientation, from seeing it as a singular and coherent phenotype to seeing it as a constellation of <i>multiple</i> biobehavioral patterns, with multiple and divergent causes and effects. I show that this perspective concords with recent findings from genetic research on sexual orientation, which show there is no single genotype underlying patterns of same-gender expression, and also concords with recent population data showing increasingly varied and fluid forms of sexual diversity around the globe that challenge the notion of sexual orientation as a singular and coherent sexual phenotype.</p>","PeriodicalId":50809,"journal":{"name":"American Journal of Human Biology","volume":"38 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":1.7,"publicationDate":"2026-01-21","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC12820751/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"146013114","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Proceedings of the Human Biology Association's 50th Annual Meeting, Baltimore Marriott Waterfront, Baltimore, Maryland, March 12th–14th, 2025","authors":"Tara J. Cepon-Robins","doi":"10.1002/ajhb.70198","DOIUrl":"10.1002/ajhb.70198","url":null,"abstract":"","PeriodicalId":50809,"journal":{"name":"American Journal of Human Biology","volume":"38 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":1.7,"publicationDate":"2026-01-16","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145991699","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
This study examines how settler-driven environmental change shaped malaria transmission and mortality in 19th-century southern Ontario. It aimed to understand the biosocial and ecological conditions that sustained endemic malaria in a temperate, colonial context.
Materials and Methods
We analyzed 2702 deaths attributed to probable malaria from 1831 to 1900 using civil, cemetery, parish, and municipal records. Each record was coded for age, sex, occupation, region, and season of death. To assess environmental influences, we incorporated monthly temperature and rainfall data from Toronto as a regional climate proxy. We examined demographic and spatial patterns at multiple scales, including towns, settlement type (urban/rural), and regional groupings, alongside temporal and seasonal variation. Statistical comparisons were used to explore associations, including nonlinear modeling of rainfall and malaria mortality.
Results
Probable malaria mortality declined over time but persisted throughout the century. Children under 5 accounted for over half of recorded deaths, while adults in agricultural occupations were also disproportionately affected. Rural areas, particularly in western Ontario, experienced the highest mortality. Generalized additive model (GAM) results indicated a strong nonlinear association between rainfall and malaria deaths (p < 0.001), while temperature was not a significant predictor.
Conclusions
Malaria's persistence in 19th-century Ontario reflected a structural embedding of disease risk within settler-transformed landscapes. Deforestation, altered hydrology, and agricultural intensification created ecologies conducive to mosquito breeding. Vulnerability was not evenly distributed but shaped by age, labor, and proximity to altered environments. These findings underscore the importance of integrating environmental and historical data to reconstruct past disease ecologies and illustrate how evolutionary mismatch can drive vulnerability even in short-lived endemic contexts.
{"title":"Ecologies of Risk: Malaria and Settler Landscape Transformation in 19th-Century Ontario","authors":"Amanda Cooke, Megan B. Brickley","doi":"10.1002/ajhb.70181","DOIUrl":"10.1002/ajhb.70181","url":null,"abstract":"<div>\u0000 \u0000 \u0000 <section>\u0000 \u0000 <h3> Objectives</h3>\u0000 \u0000 <p>This study examines how settler-driven environmental change shaped malaria transmission and mortality in 19th-century southern Ontario. It aimed to understand the biosocial and ecological conditions that sustained endemic malaria in a temperate, colonial context.</p>\u0000 </section>\u0000 \u0000 <section>\u0000 \u0000 <h3> Materials and Methods</h3>\u0000 \u0000 <p>We analyzed 2702 deaths attributed to probable malaria from 1831 to 1900 using civil, cemetery, parish, and municipal records. Each record was coded for age, sex, occupation, region, and season of death. To assess environmental influences, we incorporated monthly temperature and rainfall data from Toronto as a regional climate proxy. We examined demographic and spatial patterns at multiple scales, including towns, settlement type (urban/rural), and regional groupings, alongside temporal and seasonal variation. Statistical comparisons were used to explore associations, including nonlinear modeling of rainfall and malaria mortality.</p>\u0000 </section>\u0000 \u0000 <section>\u0000 \u0000 <h3> Results</h3>\u0000 \u0000 <p>Probable malaria mortality declined over time but persisted throughout the century. Children under 5 accounted for over half of recorded deaths, while adults in agricultural occupations were also disproportionately affected. Rural areas, particularly in western Ontario, experienced the highest mortality. Generalized additive model (GAM) results indicated a strong nonlinear association between rainfall and malaria deaths (<i>p</i> < 0.001), while temperature was not a significant predictor.</p>\u0000 </section>\u0000 \u0000 <section>\u0000 \u0000 <h3> Conclusions</h3>\u0000 \u0000 <p>Malaria's persistence in 19th-century Ontario reflected a structural embedding of disease risk within settler-transformed landscapes. Deforestation, altered hydrology, and agricultural intensification created ecologies conducive to mosquito breeding. Vulnerability was not evenly distributed but shaped by age, labor, and proximity to altered environments. These findings underscore the importance of integrating environmental and historical data to reconstruct past disease ecologies and illustrate how evolutionary mismatch can drive vulnerability even in short-lived endemic contexts.</p>\u0000 </section>\u0000 </div>","PeriodicalId":50809,"journal":{"name":"American Journal of Human Biology","volume":"38 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":1.7,"publicationDate":"2026-01-10","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/epdf/10.1002/ajhb.70181","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145949266","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Dajani, R., D. Glass, and A. Fuentes. 2025. “Doing Science With Our Grandmother's WISDOM: A Worldview Integrating Sociality, Diversity, and Observant Meaning-Making.” American Journal of Human Biology 37: e70138. https://doi.org/10.1002/ajhb.70138.
The affiliation for the author Rana Dajani was missing “Faculty of Science”. The affiliation should read as follows:
{"title":"Correction to “Doing Science With Our Grandmother's WISDOM: A Worldview Integrating Sociality, Diversity, and Observant Meaning-Making”","authors":"","doi":"10.1002/ajhb.70190","DOIUrl":"10.1002/ajhb.70190","url":null,"abstract":"<p>Dajani, R., D. Glass, and A. Fuentes. 2025. “Doing Science With Our Grandmother's WISDOM: A Worldview Integrating Sociality, Diversity, and Observant Meaning-Making.” <i>American Journal of Human Biology</i> 37: e70138. https://doi.org/10.1002/ajhb.70138.</p><p>The affiliation for the author Rana Dajani was missing “Faculty of Science”. The affiliation should read as follows:</p><p>Department of Biology and Biotechnology</p><p>Faculty of Science</p><p>The Hashemite University</p><p>Zarqa, Jordan.</p><p>We apologize for this error.</p>","PeriodicalId":50809,"journal":{"name":"American Journal of Human Biology","volume":"38 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":1.7,"publicationDate":"2026-01-09","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/epdf/10.1002/ajhb.70190","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145936035","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Magno Conceição Garcia, Tatiane Cristina Moraes de Sousa
{"title":"Letter to the Editor: Association of Air Pollution With Adiposity Rates in Active Runners and Inactive People","authors":"Magno Conceição Garcia, Tatiane Cristina Moraes de Sousa","doi":"10.1002/ajhb.70195","DOIUrl":"10.1002/ajhb.70195","url":null,"abstract":"","PeriodicalId":50809,"journal":{"name":"American Journal of Human Biology","volume":"38 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":1.7,"publicationDate":"2026-01-07","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145918998","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
This study aimed to evaluate the presence of sexual dimorphism in the second-to-fourth digit length ratio (2D:4D) and to systematically investigate the contribution of potential allometric interactions to this variation in a sample of Turkish newborns (N = 225, 125 girls). Investigating newborns provides a unique opportunity to determine whether 2D:4D sexual dimorphism is primarily shaped by prenatal hormonal programming or by postnatal growth-related allometric interactions.
Materials and Methods
Digit lengths (2D and 4D) were measured for both hands with 0.01 mm precision. Statistical analyses included ANOVA, Kruskal–Wallis, Spearman correlation, and Analysis of Covariance (ANCOVA), utilizing the mean 4D length as a covariate to isolate the size effect.
Results
Male newborns exhibited significantly lower right and left 2D:4D ratios compared to females (right d = 0.68; left d = 0.80). Although males had significantly longer 4D lengths, ANCOVA results demonstrated that the sexual dimorphism in the 2D:4D ratio remained significant and independent of the 4D size effect (Right p = 0.003; left p = 0.001). Furthermore, when 4D length was statistically controlled, 2D length itself significantly differed between sexes, suggesting independent hormonal influence on 2D development.
Conclusion
The findings provide evidence for sexual dimorphism in 2D:4D in Turkish neonates. In this respect, the sex difference appears to be independent of the absolute length of the fourth digit, providing developmental evidence that is inconsistent with the allometry hypothesis and supporting the premise that 2D:4D dimorphism is likely related to prenatal hormonal programming rather than simple differential growth.
{"title":"The First Allometric Analysis in Newborns Rejects the Allometry Hypothesis for 2D:4D: Strong Developmental Evidence for Prenatal Hormonal Programming","authors":"Barış Özener, Berna Ertuğrul, Görel Aksoy","doi":"10.1002/ajhb.70193","DOIUrl":"10.1002/ajhb.70193","url":null,"abstract":"<div>\u0000 \u0000 \u0000 <section>\u0000 \u0000 <h3> Objective</h3>\u0000 \u0000 <p>This study aimed to evaluate the presence of sexual dimorphism in the second-to-fourth digit length ratio (2D:4D) and to systematically investigate the contribution of potential allometric interactions to this variation in a sample of Turkish newborns (<i>N</i> = 225, 125 girls). Investigating newborns provides a unique opportunity to determine whether 2D:4D sexual dimorphism is primarily shaped by prenatal hormonal programming or by postnatal growth-related allometric interactions.</p>\u0000 </section>\u0000 \u0000 <section>\u0000 \u0000 <h3> Materials and Methods</h3>\u0000 \u0000 <p>Digit lengths (2D and 4D) were measured for both hands with 0.01 mm precision. Statistical analyses included ANOVA, Kruskal–Wallis, Spearman correlation, and Analysis of Covariance (ANCOVA), utilizing the mean 4D length as a covariate to isolate the size effect.</p>\u0000 </section>\u0000 \u0000 <section>\u0000 \u0000 <h3> Results</h3>\u0000 \u0000 <p>Male newborns exhibited significantly lower right and left 2D:4D ratios compared to females (right <i>d</i> = 0.68; left <i>d</i> = 0.80). Although males had significantly longer 4D lengths, ANCOVA results demonstrated that the sexual dimorphism in the 2D:4D ratio remained significant and independent of the 4D size effect (Right <i>p</i> = 0.003; left <i>p</i> = 0.001). Furthermore, when 4D length was statistically controlled, 2D length itself significantly differed between sexes, suggesting independent hormonal influence on 2D development.</p>\u0000 </section>\u0000 \u0000 <section>\u0000 \u0000 <h3> Conclusion</h3>\u0000 \u0000 <p>The findings provide evidence for sexual dimorphism in 2D:4D in Turkish neonates. In this respect, the sex difference appears to be independent of the absolute length of the fourth digit, providing developmental evidence that is inconsistent with the allometry hypothesis and supporting the premise that 2D:4D dimorphism is likely related to prenatal hormonal programming rather than simple differential growth.</p>\u0000 </section>\u0000 </div>","PeriodicalId":50809,"journal":{"name":"American Journal of Human Biology","volume":"38 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":1.7,"publicationDate":"2026-01-07","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145918944","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Mexico's population is often perceived, particularly in U.S. discourse, as genetically homogeneous. This misconception arises from a broader tendency to treat “Mexicans” or “Latinos” as a monolithic category, obscuring historical, cultural, and genetic differences. In fact, Mexico is a highly genetically diverse country. Centuries of admixture among Indigenous, European, and African populations have created complex ancestry patterns that vary by geography, sex-biased lineages, and fine-scale Indigenous substructure. Indigenous groups alone exhibit levels of differentiation comparable to those observed between continental populations, and these distinctions remain detectable in contemporary admixed Mexicans. Such diversity has tangible biomedical consequences: reported ancestry-associated variation in lung function, pharmacogenomic responses, and the discovery of the diabetes-associated SLC16A11 variant illustrate how studies in Mexicans can reveal genetic and health insights that may be invisible in more homogeneous populations. Implications extend well beyond Mexico. More than 37 million people of Mexican origin reside in the United States, forming the largest Latino subgroup, and their genetic ancestry mirrors that of populations in Mexico. Moreover, the European and African components of Mexico's admixture contribute to findings of broader applicability, underscoring that research in Mexico is not only relevant to Latinos but to human populations more generally. Recognizing Mexico's genetic diversity is therefore essential for building more accurate, inclusive, and equitable biomedical knowledge.
{"title":"Genetic Ancestry of the Mexican Population: Diversity and Implications for Health Research","authors":"Héctor Lamadrid-Figueroa, Jimena Fritz","doi":"10.1002/ajhb.70191","DOIUrl":"10.1002/ajhb.70191","url":null,"abstract":"<div>\u0000 \u0000 <p>Mexico's population is often perceived, particularly in U.S. discourse, as genetically homogeneous. This misconception arises from a broader tendency to treat “Mexicans” or “Latinos” as a monolithic category, obscuring historical, cultural, and genetic differences. In fact, Mexico is a highly genetically diverse country. Centuries of admixture among Indigenous, European, and African populations have created complex ancestry patterns that vary by geography, sex-biased lineages, and fine-scale Indigenous substructure. Indigenous groups alone exhibit levels of differentiation comparable to those observed between continental populations, and these distinctions remain detectable in contemporary admixed Mexicans. Such diversity has tangible biomedical consequences: reported ancestry-associated variation in lung function, pharmacogenomic responses, and the discovery of the diabetes-associated SLC16A11 variant illustrate how studies in Mexicans can reveal genetic and health insights that may be invisible in more homogeneous populations. Implications extend well beyond Mexico. More than 37 million people of Mexican origin reside in the United States, forming the largest Latino subgroup, and their genetic ancestry mirrors that of populations in Mexico. Moreover, the European and African components of Mexico's admixture contribute to findings of broader applicability, underscoring that research in Mexico is not only relevant to Latinos but to human populations more generally. Recognizing Mexico's genetic diversity is therefore essential for building more accurate, inclusive, and equitable biomedical knowledge.</p>\u0000 </div>","PeriodicalId":50809,"journal":{"name":"American Journal of Human Biology","volume":"38 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":1.7,"publicationDate":"2026-01-07","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145918802","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Anna Opoka, Paulina Pruszkowska-Przybylska, Elżbieta Żądzińska
<div> <section> <h3> Background</h3> <p>The aim of this study was to investigate if the type of feeding (breastfeeding/formula feeding) and the duration of breastfeeding (in months) may have long-term effects on vitamin D concentrations and cortisol levels in children aged 6–13 years. Additionally, we examined if family socio-economic status (SES) level modifies these relationships.</p> </section> <section> <h3> Material and Methods</h3> <p>The analysis included 170 children (92 girls and 78 boys) aged 6–13 years. The study comprised a parental questionnaire and laboratory analyses. The questionnaire included information on the diet during the first months of life and the family's standard of living. The laboratory analyses measured 25(OH)D and cortisol concentrations in saliva using an ELISA assay. To evaluate the relationship between breastfeeding, vitamin D, and cortisol among children, several statistical tests were conducted, including the Chi2 test, the U-Mann–Whitney test, Kendall's Tau correlation, and multivariate and stepwise backward regression.</p> </section> <section> <h3> Results</h3> <p>Breastfed girls had notably higher cortisol concentrations than boys (<i>Z</i> = 1.9885; <i>p</i> = 0.0468). In addition, for girls, there was a significant positive correlation between the length of breastfeeding and cortisol concentrations (<i>τ</i> = 0.2299). The concentration of cortisol was found to have a significant positive correlation with the concentration of vitamin D (<i>τ</i> = 0.1630). Breastfeeding duration (in months) was found to have a significant positive correlation with vitamin D concentration in males (<i>τ</i> = 0.1791). Furthermore, there was a positive correlation between the concentration of vitamin D and cortisol (<i>τ</i> = 0.2035). The multiple regression model revealed a significant positive correlation between breastfeeding duration (in months) and cortisol concentration in boys (Beta = 0.532; <i>p</i> < 0.0001). Additionally, a positive correlation was observed between cortisol concentration and vitamin D concentration in boys (Beta = 0.217; <i>p</i> = 0.0284). In contrast to boys, vitamin D concentrations in girls were found to have a positive correlation with the season of the study, specifically in late spring (Beta = 0.379; <i>p</i> = 0.0002). Additionally, backward stepwise regression indicated in boys a significant positive correlation between breastfeeding and cortisol levels (Beta = 0.620; <i>p</i> < 0.0001) and a positive correlation between cortisol levels and vitamin D levels (Beta = 0.222; <i>p</i> = 0.0247). Backward stepwise regression analysis also showed a significant positive correlation between vitamin D levels and high family SES (Beta = 0.258; <i>p</i> = 0
{"title":"Breastfeeding Might Be Associated With Vitamin D and Cortisol Concentration Among Children Aged 6–13 Years","authors":"Anna Opoka, Paulina Pruszkowska-Przybylska, Elżbieta Żądzińska","doi":"10.1002/ajhb.70194","DOIUrl":"10.1002/ajhb.70194","url":null,"abstract":"<div>\u0000 \u0000 \u0000 <section>\u0000 \u0000 <h3> Background</h3>\u0000 \u0000 <p>The aim of this study was to investigate if the type of feeding (breastfeeding/formula feeding) and the duration of breastfeeding (in months) may have long-term effects on vitamin D concentrations and cortisol levels in children aged 6–13 years. Additionally, we examined if family socio-economic status (SES) level modifies these relationships.</p>\u0000 </section>\u0000 \u0000 <section>\u0000 \u0000 <h3> Material and Methods</h3>\u0000 \u0000 <p>The analysis included 170 children (92 girls and 78 boys) aged 6–13 years. The study comprised a parental questionnaire and laboratory analyses. The questionnaire included information on the diet during the first months of life and the family's standard of living. The laboratory analyses measured 25(OH)D and cortisol concentrations in saliva using an ELISA assay. To evaluate the relationship between breastfeeding, vitamin D, and cortisol among children, several statistical tests were conducted, including the Chi2 test, the U-Mann–Whitney test, Kendall's Tau correlation, and multivariate and stepwise backward regression.</p>\u0000 </section>\u0000 \u0000 <section>\u0000 \u0000 <h3> Results</h3>\u0000 \u0000 <p>Breastfed girls had notably higher cortisol concentrations than boys (<i>Z</i> = 1.9885; <i>p</i> = 0.0468). In addition, for girls, there was a significant positive correlation between the length of breastfeeding and cortisol concentrations (<i>τ</i> = 0.2299). The concentration of cortisol was found to have a significant positive correlation with the concentration of vitamin D (<i>τ</i> = 0.1630). Breastfeeding duration (in months) was found to have a significant positive correlation with vitamin D concentration in males (<i>τ</i> = 0.1791). Furthermore, there was a positive correlation between the concentration of vitamin D and cortisol (<i>τ</i> = 0.2035). The multiple regression model revealed a significant positive correlation between breastfeeding duration (in months) and cortisol concentration in boys (Beta = 0.532; <i>p</i> < 0.0001). Additionally, a positive correlation was observed between cortisol concentration and vitamin D concentration in boys (Beta = 0.217; <i>p</i> = 0.0284). In contrast to boys, vitamin D concentrations in girls were found to have a positive correlation with the season of the study, specifically in late spring (Beta = 0.379; <i>p</i> = 0.0002). Additionally, backward stepwise regression indicated in boys a significant positive correlation between breastfeeding and cortisol levels (Beta = 0.620; <i>p</i> < 0.0001) and a positive correlation between cortisol levels and vitamin D levels (Beta = 0.222; <i>p</i> = 0.0247). Backward stepwise regression analysis also showed a significant positive correlation between vitamin D levels and high family SES (Beta = 0.258; <i>p</i> = 0","PeriodicalId":50809,"journal":{"name":"American Journal of Human Biology","volume":"38 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":1.7,"publicationDate":"2026-01-07","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145918819","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Delay discounting reflects individual differences in future orientation and impulsivity and may relate to life-history strategies. Because delay discounting has a substantial genetic basis, we investigated whether the polygenic score (PGS) for delay discounting is associated with genetic predispositions for key life-history traits—education, age at first birth, and number of children—and whether these relationships are reflected phenotypically.
Methods
We used data from the Wisconsin Longitudinal Study, including 2713 men and 2980 women of European ancestry with available genetic data. Linear regressions examined associations between the delay-discounting PGS and PGSs for educational attainment, age at first birth, and number of children. Parallel models assessed phenotypic associations with years of postsecondary education, age at first birth, and number of children. All models controlled for birth year and the first 10 genomic principal components.
Results
In both sexes, the delay-discounting PGS was strongly negatively associated with the PGSs for educational attainment and age at first birth, and positively associated with the PGS for number of children. Phenotypic associations were directionally consistent but substantially smaller: higher delay-discounting PGSs predicted fewer years of education, earlier first birth, and (marginally) more children. Explained variance ranged from approximately 4%–5% for education to 1%–2% for reproductive traits.
Conclusion
Genetic and phenotypic associations between delay discounting, education, and reproductive timing align with predictions from fast–slow life-history theory. These findings suggest that behavioral tendencies related to impulsivity and future orientation share molecular genetic foundations with key life-history traits while leaving substantial scope for environmental influences.
{"title":"Genetic and Phenotypic Associations of the Polygenic Score of Delay Discounting and Life History Traits","authors":"Martin Fieder, Susanne Huber","doi":"10.1002/ajhb.70192","DOIUrl":"10.1002/ajhb.70192","url":null,"abstract":"<div>\u0000 \u0000 \u0000 <section>\u0000 \u0000 <h3> Objectives</h3>\u0000 \u0000 <p>Delay discounting reflects individual differences in future orientation and impulsivity and may relate to life-history strategies. Because delay discounting has a substantial genetic basis, we investigated whether the polygenic score (PGS) for delay discounting is associated with genetic predispositions for key life-history traits—education, age at first birth, and number of children—and whether these relationships are reflected phenotypically.</p>\u0000 </section>\u0000 \u0000 <section>\u0000 \u0000 <h3> Methods</h3>\u0000 \u0000 <p>We used data from the Wisconsin Longitudinal Study, including 2713 men and 2980 women of European ancestry with available genetic data. Linear regressions examined associations between the delay-discounting PGS and PGSs for educational attainment, age at first birth, and number of children. Parallel models assessed phenotypic associations with years of postsecondary education, age at first birth, and number of children. All models controlled for birth year and the first 10 genomic principal components.</p>\u0000 </section>\u0000 \u0000 <section>\u0000 \u0000 <h3> Results</h3>\u0000 \u0000 <p>In both sexes, the delay-discounting PGS was strongly negatively associated with the PGSs for educational attainment and age at first birth, and positively associated with the PGS for number of children. Phenotypic associations were directionally consistent but substantially smaller: higher delay-discounting PGSs predicted fewer years of education, earlier first birth, and (marginally) more children. Explained variance ranged from approximately 4%–5% for education to 1%–2% for reproductive traits.</p>\u0000 </section>\u0000 \u0000 <section>\u0000 \u0000 <h3> Conclusion</h3>\u0000 \u0000 <p>Genetic and phenotypic associations between delay discounting, education, and reproductive timing align with predictions from fast–slow life-history theory. These findings suggest that behavioral tendencies related to impulsivity and future orientation share molecular genetic foundations with key life-history traits while leaving substantial scope for environmental influences.</p>\u0000 </section>\u0000 </div>","PeriodicalId":50809,"journal":{"name":"American Journal of Human Biology","volume":"38 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":1.7,"publicationDate":"2026-01-07","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/epdf/10.1002/ajhb.70192","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145919010","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Gabriela Beatriz Revollo, Marcelo Isidro Figueroa, José Edgardo Dipierri, María del Pilar Díaz, Emma Laura Alfaro Gómez
Introduction
Birth weight (BW) is a key indicator of intrauterine growth, influenced by maternal and environmental factors, including geographic altitude. This study analyzes the influence of maternal and socio-environmental factors on BW between 1991 and 2014 in the province of Jujuy, Argentina.
Methods
A total of 310 793 live births in Jujuy were analyzed, grouped by maternal region of residence. Mean BW was estimated, and the percentage distribution of maternal and gestational variables was described. Three-level generalized linear models were applied to assess the association between BW and these variables, accounting for longitudinal and spatial variability.
Results
Mean BW was lower in high-altitude regions, with an adjusted difference of ~150 g between highlands and lowlands (p < 0.001). Preterm births, adolescent mothers, and mothers not cohabiting with a partner were associated with lower average BW, while post-term births or mothers with lower educational attainment had higher BW. Adjusted models confirmed differential patterns by altitude, highlighting significant effects (p < 0.001) of maternal and gestational factors.
Conclusion
In Jujuy, between 1991 and 2014, BW showed a significant association with geographic altitude and maternal factors such as age, marital status, and gestational age, with regional variations. Understanding and addressing these interactions is essential to reduce maternal and neonatal morbidity and mortality.
出生体重（BW）是宫内生长的关键指标，受母体和环境因素（包括地理海拔）的影响。本研究分析了1991 - 2014年阿根廷胡胡伊省产妇和社会环境因素对BW的影响。方法：对常熟县310793例活产婴儿进行统计分析，按产妇居住地区分组。估计平均体重，并描述母体和妊娠变量的百分比分布。应用三级广义线性模型评估体重与这些变量之间的关系，考虑纵向和空间变异。结果：高海拔地区的平均体重较低，高原和低地之间的调整差值为~150 g (p)结论：1991 - 2014年胡胡伊地区的体重与地理海拔和产妇年龄、婚姻状况、胎龄等因素有显著相关性，且存在区域差异。了解和处理这些相互作用对于降低孕产妇和新生儿发病率和死亡率至关重要。
{"title":"Maternal and Environmental Influence on Birth Weight in Jujuy, Argentina (1991–2014)","authors":"Gabriela Beatriz Revollo, Marcelo Isidro Figueroa, José Edgardo Dipierri, María del Pilar Díaz, Emma Laura Alfaro Gómez","doi":"10.1002/ajhb.70196","DOIUrl":"10.1002/ajhb.70196","url":null,"abstract":"<div>\u0000 \u0000 \u0000 <section>\u0000 \u0000 <h3> Introduction</h3>\u0000 \u0000 <p>Birth weight (BW) is a key indicator of intrauterine growth, influenced by maternal and environmental factors, including geographic altitude. This study analyzes the influence of maternal and socio-environmental factors on BW between 1991 and 2014 in the province of Jujuy, Argentina.</p>\u0000 </section>\u0000 \u0000 <section>\u0000 \u0000 <h3> Methods</h3>\u0000 \u0000 <p>A total of 310 793 live births in Jujuy were analyzed, grouped by maternal region of residence. Mean BW was estimated, and the percentage distribution of maternal and gestational variables was described. Three-level generalized linear models were applied to assess the association between BW and these variables, accounting for longitudinal and spatial variability.</p>\u0000 </section>\u0000 \u0000 <section>\u0000 \u0000 <h3> Results</h3>\u0000 \u0000 <p>Mean BW was lower in high-altitude regions, with an adjusted difference of ~150 g between highlands and lowlands (<i>p</i> < 0.001). Preterm births, adolescent mothers, and mothers not cohabiting with a partner were associated with lower average BW, while post-term births or mothers with lower educational attainment had higher BW. Adjusted models confirmed differential patterns by altitude, highlighting significant effects (<i>p</i> < 0.001) of maternal and gestational factors.</p>\u0000 </section>\u0000 \u0000 <section>\u0000 \u0000 <h3> Conclusion</h3>\u0000 \u0000 <p>In Jujuy, between 1991 and 2014, BW showed a significant association with geographic altitude and maternal factors such as age, marital status, and gestational age, with regional variations. Understanding and addressing these interactions is essential to reduce maternal and neonatal morbidity and mortality.</p>\u0000 </section>\u0000 </div>","PeriodicalId":50809,"journal":{"name":"American Journal of Human Biology","volume":"38 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":1.7,"publicationDate":"2026-01-07","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145918956","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
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