Comment on "An association between the kinship and fertility of human couples"

Science. 2008 Dec 12;322(5908):1634; author reply 1634. doi: 10.1126/science.1161907.

Abstract

Helgason et al. (Reports, 8 February 2008, p. 813) reported a positive association between kinship and fertility in the Icelandic population. We point out that the data further suggest that fertility initially increases with kinship and then decays. This is supported by another large study on the Danish population suggesting a superposition of effects of inbreeding and outbreeding depression on human fertility.

Publication types

  • Comment
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Consanguinity
  • Denmark
  • Family Characteristics*
  • Family*
  • Female
  • Fertility*
  • Humans
  • Iceland
  • Male
  • Socioeconomic Factors