Daughter's Tolerance of Mom Matters in Mate Choice.

Singer, Jeffrey R; Weaver, Casey T · Cell · 2015

basic_science · Level V

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Abstract

Mendelian genetics presumes inheritance of fitness through DNA. Kinder et al. find that maternal microchimerism induces stable immune tolerance to non-inherited maternal antigens in offspring. Female offspring that share these antigens with their mate experience reduced fetal wasting, establishing a role for vertical transmission of non-genetic information in reproductive fitness.

Medical subject headings