Is genetic diversity associated with mating success in humans?

Human mating success has been associated with phenotypic characteristics proposed to signal genetic quality. However, whether genetic quality is directly associated with mating success in humans is unknown. Genetic diversity in general, and particularly at genes important for immune functioning within the major histocompatibility complex (MHC), has been associated with individual fitness and opposite-sex preferences for facial appearance, and may therefore be subject to sexual selection in humans. We investigated whether general and/or MHC genetic diversity, measured as microsatellite heterozygosity and standardized mean d2, was associated with mating success, defined as number of sexual partners and age of first sex. Both measures of MHC diversity predicted number of sexual partners in females. Females with greater MHC diversity were more successful at obtaining mates than less diverse females. Mating success in males, however, was not significantly associated with any of the genetic diversity measures. These results provide partial support for a role of genetic diversity in human mating success.