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Abdel Abdellaoui @dr-appie.bsky.social · 21d

Sexlessness is relevant to wellbeing and evolution. But it’s also a complex behavioral trait: its genetic associations trace back to many other traits and environments.

The associations we find are correlational and likely to be culture-specific, so more research is needed.

Abdel Abdellaoui @dr-appie.bsky.social · 21d

Genes linked to sexlessness overlap with genes associated with:
- Higher education & IQ
- Less substance use
- Higher autism & anorexia risk
- Lower ADHD, anxiety, depression & PTSD risk

Abdel Abdellaoui @dr-appie.bsky.social · 21d

Thousands of genetic variants with very tiny effects together explain ~15% of variation. The genetic correlation between men and women is .56.

Ancient DNA shows an allele significantly associated with sexlessness declined over 12,000 years, consistent with natural selection.

Abdel Abdellaoui @dr-appie.bsky.social · 21d

Where you live matters too.

Men in regions with fewer women were more likely to be sexless.

Sexlessness was also more common in regions with higher income inequality.

Abdel Abdellaoui @dr-appie.bsky.social · 21d

Sexless individuals reported:
- More loneliness, nervousness, unhappiness
- Fewer close relationships & social connections
- Less alcohol & drug use

Patterns differed by sex: for men, physical strength, income, and social connection mattered more.

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Abdel Abdellaoui @dr-appie.bsky.social · 21d

Sex is central to human wellbeing.

~1% of people never have sex. While some people simply don’t want sex, for others, no partner can mean loneliness, lower wellbeing, or even economic disadvantage.

No sex is also interesting for genetics as it is an evolutionary “dead end”.

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Abdel Abdellaoui @dr-appie.bsky.social · 21d

The largest study on late life virginity, based on >400k individuals, out now in @pnas.org

Open access link: pnas.org/doi/10.1073/...

Shoutout to shared first author @laurawesseldijk.bsky.social ❤️

Thread below 👇🏽

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Reposted by Abdel Abdellaoui

Uku Vainik @ukuvainik.bsky.social · 28d

"Social science genetics encompasses the longest causal chain in science: from DNA to human culture."

Abdel Abdellaoui @dr-appie.bsky.social · Sep 8

Some people call it a minefield. Others call it dangerous, even irresponsible. I call it the most promising field in life sciences.

My love letter to social science genetics: communities.springernature.com/posts/a-love...

Some people call social science genetics a minefield. Others call it dangerous, even irresponsible. I call it the most promising field in life sciences.

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Reposted by Abdel Abdellaoui

Marios Georgakis @mariosgeorgakis.bsky.social · 26d

A great read👇

Some social science genetics papers are among the most interesting and methodologically rigorous I've read.

From biology to mating choices and inequalities, they deal with very fundamental concepts of what makes as humans.

Abdel Abdellaoui @dr-appie.bsky.social · Sep 8

Some people call it a minefield. Others call it dangerous, even irresponsible. I call it the most promising field in life sciences.

My love letter to social science genetics: communities.springernature.com/posts/a-love...

Some people call social science genetics a minefield. Others call it dangerous, even irresponsible. I call it the most promising field in life sciences.

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Reposted by Abdel Abdellaoui

Xosé M Fernández @xosegb.bsky.social · 29d

A Love Letter to Social Science Genetics communities.springernature.com/posts/a-love...

Some people call social science genetics a minefield. Others call it dangerous, even irresponsible. I call it the most promising field in life sciences.

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Abdel Abdellaoui @dr-appie.bsky.social · 26d

Thank you! 🙏🏽

Reposted by Abdel Abdellaoui

Simon Fisher @profsimonfisher.bsky.social · 29d

"Part of maturing as a field is to recognize its history: to decide what to keep, & what we must outgrow, both in how we train the next generation of researchers & in how we help the public make sense of our past." @dr-appie.bsky.social's nuanced take on social science genetics, well worth a read.👇🧪

Some people call social science genetics a minefield. Others call it dangerous, even irresponsible. I call it the most promising field in life sciences.

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Reposted by Abdel Abdellaoui

Lizah van der Aart @lizahaart.bsky.social · 29d

It was an absolute joy to create visuals for Abdel and to see how these keep supporting his stories. I also appreciate social science genetics in a totally new way now 💙

Abdel Abdellaoui @dr-appie.bsky.social · Sep 8

Some people call it a minefield. Others call it dangerous, even irresponsible. I call it the most promising field in life sciences.

My love letter to social science genetics: communities.springernature.com/posts/a-love...

Some people call social science genetics a minefield. Others call it dangerous, even irresponsible. I call it the most promising field in life sciences.