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Natural selection on human twinning

Author

Listed:
  • Virpi Lummaa

    (Section of Ecology, University of Turku)

  • Erkki Haukioja

    (Section of Ecology, University of Turku)

  • Risto Lemmetyinen

    (Section of Ecology, University of Turku)

  • Mirja Pikkola

    (Section of Ecology, University of Turku)

Abstract

The frequency of twin deliveries varies among human populations1. The highest twinning rates for caucasian populations have been recorded on the archipelago of Åland and Åboland, in southwest Finland2,3, whereas multiple deliveries in adjacent mainland areas are historically rarer3. Using data from the pre-industrial era (1752-1850), we compare the lifetime reproductive success of mothers who produced twins with that of mothers of singletons in these archipelago and mainland sites. When we restrict our analysis to mothers with a genetic tendency to produce twins, we find that lifetime reproductive success is maximized by having twins on the archipelago, but by having singleton offspring on the mainland. This result is consistent with the difference in twinning rate being maintained by natural selection.

Suggested Citation

  • Virpi Lummaa & Erkki Haukioja & Risto Lemmetyinen & Mirja Pikkola, 1998. "Natural selection on human twinning," Nature, Nature, vol. 394(6693), pages 533-534, August.
    • Handle: RePEc:nat:nature:v:394:y:1998:i:6693:d:10.1038_28977
    DOI: 10.1038/28977
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    Cited by:

    1. Ian J. Rickard & Colin Vullioud & François Rousset & Erik Postma & Samuli Helle & Virpi Lummaa & Ritva Kylli & Jenni E. Pettay & Eivin Røskaft & Gine R. Skjærvø & Charlotte Störmer & Eckart Voland & D, 2022. "Mothers with higher twinning propensity had lower fertility in pre-industrial Europe," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 13(1), pages 1-12, December.
    2. Alice Tagliani-Ribeiro & Mariana Oliveira & Adriana K Sassi & Maira R Rodrigues & Marcelo Zagonel-Oliveira & Gary Steinman & Ursula Matte & Nelson J R Fagundes & Lavinia Schuler-Faccini, 2011. "Twin Town in South Brazil: A Nazi's Experiment or a Genetic Founder Effect?," PLOS ONE, Public Library of Science, vol. 6(6), pages 1-8, June.
    3. Richard Meitern & Mark Gortfelder & Allan Puur & Peeter Hõrak, 2024. "Maternal capacity, twinning and fertility: the last birth matters," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 15(1), pages 1-4, December.
    4. Simon N Chapman & Jenni E Pettay & Mirkka Lahdenperä & Virpi Lummaa, 2018. "Grandmotherhood across the demographic transition," PLOS ONE, Public Library of Science, vol. 13(7), pages 1-17, July.

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