Mating Is Random

Abstract

HLA typing was undertaken in 151 unrelated blood donors and in 35 normal couples having at least 2 living children. Observed and expected sharing of HLA antigens were compared at 4 loci in normal couples. The observed sharing in couples with the expected sharing in unrelated blood donors if taken 2 by 2 and with the sharing observed after 1000 synthetic matings of normal couples were also compared. No statistically significant difference in HLA sharing appeared between these groups. No differences were observed in the probabilities of sharing individual HLA antigens among the different groups. Thus, the observed HLA sharing in normal couples is governed by change alone and mating is random in the human population.