Abstract
The androgen receptor (AR) gene polymorphism in humans is linked to aggression and may also be linked to reproduction. Here we report associations between AR gene polymorphism and aggression and reproduction in two small-scale societies in northern Tanzania (Africa)—the Hadza (monogamous foragers) and the Datoga (polygynous pastoralists). We secured self-reports of aggression and assessed genetic polymorphism of the number of CAG repeats for the AR gene for 210 Hadza men and 229 Datoga men (aged 17–70 years). We conducted structural equation modeling to identify links between AR gene polymorphism, aggression, and number of children born, and included age and ethnicity as covariates. Fewer AR CAG repeats predicted greater aggression, and Datoga men reported more aggression than did Hadza men. In addition, aggression mediated the identified negative relationship between CAG repeats and number of children born.
Highlights
Aggression in traditional and modern societies is sometimes deployed to acquire resources and, social status and reproductive opportunities [1,2,3,4,5,6]
The median number of androgen receptor (AR) CAG repeats was greater in the Hadza than in the Datoga (Table 1)
We demonstrated a negative association between the CAG AR gene repeat number and reproduction, via aggression as mediating factor
Summary
Aggression in traditional and modern societies is sometimes deployed to acquire resources and, social status and reproductive opportunities [1,2,3,4,5,6]. The length of the GGN repeat predicts circulating and free T in men [23] These relationships have inspired research investigating associations of the AR gene polymorphism with personality traits and behavioral correlates, including antisocial behavior and aggression [24]. We report associations between AR gene polymorphism and aggression and reproduction in men living in one of two small-scale societies, the Hadza and the Datoga of Tanzania. We predicted differences between Hadza men and Datoga men in aggression and in CAG repeats of the AR gene, due to differences in mating systems and related cultural differences in attitudes towards aggression. We hypothesized greater aggression and fewer and more variable CAG repeats in the polygynous Datoga than in the monogamous Hadza. Repeat number, age, and ethnicity with the number of children sired to be mediated by aggression
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