Mothers Pass On Disease Clues To Offspring
Monday, January 5, 2009 - 13:35
in Health & Medicine
When there is a threat of disease during pregnancy, mothers produce less aggressive sons with more efficient immune systems, researchers have discovered. The new study provides the first evidence for a transgenerational effect on immune response based on environmental cues -- with maternal perception of disease risk in the immediate environment potentially determining offspring disease resistance and social dominance.