Genetic similarity between relatives provides evidence on the presence and history of assortative mating

Hans Fredrik Sunde (), Nikolai Haahjem Eftedal, Rosa Cheesman, Elizabeth C. Corfield, Thomas H. Kleppesto, Anne Caroline Seierstad, Eivind Ystrom, Espen Moen Eilertsen and Fartein Ask Torvik
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Hans Fredrik Sunde: Norwegian Institute of Public Health
Nikolai Haahjem Eftedal: University of Oslo
Rosa Cheesman: University of Oslo
Elizabeth C. Corfield: Lovisenberg Diakonale Hospital
Thomas H. Kleppesto: Norwegian Institute of Public Health
Anne Caroline Seierstad: University of Oslo
Eivind Ystrom: University of Oslo
Espen Moen Eilertsen: University of Oslo
Fartein Ask Torvik: Norwegian Institute of Public Health

Nature Communications, 2024, vol. 15, issue 1, 1-11

Abstract: Abstract Assortative mating – the non-random mating of individuals with similar traits – is known to increase trait-specific genetic variance and genetic similarity between relatives. However, empirical evidence is limited for many traits, and the implications hinge on whether assortative mating has started recently or many generations ago. Here we show theoretically and empirically that genetic similarity between relatives can provide evidence on the presence and history of assortative mating. First, we employed path analysis to understand how assortative mating affects genetic similarity between family members across generations, finding that similarity between distant relatives is more affected than close relatives. Next, we correlated polygenic indices of 47,135 co-parents from the Norwegian Mother, Father, and Child Cohort Study (MoBa) and found genetic evidence of assortative mating in nine out of sixteen examined traits. The same traits showed elevated similarity between relatives, especially distant relatives. Six of the nine traits, including educational attainment, showed greater genetic variance among offspring, which is inconsistent with stable assortative mating over many generations. These results suggest an ongoing increase in familial similarity for these traits. The implications of this research extend to genetic methodology and the understanding of social and economic disparities.

Date: 2024
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DOI: 10.1038/s41467-024-46939-9

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