Med Hypotheses. 2001 Dec;57(6):761-3.

The ratio of 2nd to 4th digit length: a proxy for testosterone, and susceptibility to HIV and AIDS?

Source

School of Biological Sciences, University of Liverpool, UK. jtmann@liv.ac.uk

Abstract

The incidence of HIV and AIDS is high in sub-Saharan Africa and in male homosexuals. It is suggested that testosterone-mediated immune dysfunction may account for this pattern. The ratio of the length of the 2nd and 4th digit (2D:4D) is negatively related to prenatal and adult testosterone concentrations. There is evidence that black South Africans have lower 2D:4D ratios than most other populations and male homosexuals have lower 2D:4D ratios than male heterosexuals. Men with low 2D:4D ratios may also be more sexually active and/or more fertile than men with high ratio. We suggest that men and women with low 2D:4D are susceptible to HIV infection and AIDS and babies with low 2D:4D ratio susceptible to vertical transmission. Infection rates may therefore be reduced by education and condom supply directed towards low 2D:4D adults.

PMID:: 11918443; [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]

MeSH Terms, Substances

MeSH Terms

Substances

Testosterone

LinkOut - more resources

Full Text Sources

Other Literature Sources

Labome Researcher Resource - ExactAntigen/Labome

Medical

Molecular Biology Databases

TESTOSTERONE - HSDB

Supplemental Content

Related citations

Review 2nd to 4th digit ratio and a universal mean for prenatal testosterone in homosexual men. [Med Hypotheses. 2003]
Review 2nd to 4th digit ratio and a universal mean for prenatal testosterone in homosexual men.
Manning JT, Robinson SJ. Med Hypotheses. 2003 Aug; 61(2):303-6.
2nd to 4th digit ratio (2D:4D) and number of sex partners: evidence for effects of prenatal testosterone in men. [Psychoneuroendocrinology. 2006]
2nd to 4th digit ratio (2D:4D) and number of sex partners: evidence for effects of prenatal testosterone in men.
Hönekopp J, Voracek M, Manning JT. Psychoneuroendocrinology. 2006 Jan; 31(1):30-7. Epub 2005 Jul 6.
The 2nd-4th digit ratio (2D:4D) and neck circumference: implications for risk factors in coronary heart disease. [Int J Obes (Lond). 2006]
The 2nd-4th digit ratio (2D:4D) and neck circumference: implications for risk factors in coronary heart disease.
Fink B, Manning JT, Neave N. Int J Obes (Lond). 2006 Apr; 30(4):711-4.
The ratio of 2nd to 4th digit length: a predictor of sperm numbers and concentrations of testosterone, luteinizing hormone and oestrogen. [Hum Reprod. 1998]
The ratio of 2nd to 4th digit length: a predictor of sperm numbers and concentrations of testosterone, luteinizing hormone and oestrogen.
Manning JT, Scutt D, Wilson J, Lewis-Jones DI. Hum Reprod. 1998 Nov; 13(11):3000-4.
Review The use of digit ratios as markers for perinatal androgen action. [Reprod Biol Endocrinol. 2006]
Review The use of digit ratios as markers for perinatal androgen action.
McIntyre MH. Reprod Biol Endocrinol. 2006 Feb 26; 4:10. Epub 2006 Feb 26.

See reviews... See all...

Related information

Related Citations
Calculated set of PubMed citations closely related to the selected article(s) retrieved using a word weight algorithm. Related articles are displayed in ranked order from most to least relevant, with the “linked from” citation displayed first.
Compound (MeSH Keyword)
PubChem chemical compound records that are classified under the same Medical Subject Headings (MeSH) controlled vocabulary as the current articles.
Substance (MeSH Keyword)
PubChem chemical substance (submitted) records that are classified under the same Medical Subject Headings (MeSH) controlled vocabulary as the current articles.

Recent activity

Clear Turn Off Turn On

The ratio of 2nd to 4th digit length: a proxy for testosterone, and susceptibili...
The ratio of 2nd to 4th digit length: a proxy for testosterone, and susceptibility to HIV and AIDS?
Med Hypotheses. 2001 Dec ;57(6):761-3.

PubMed
Fingerprint identification of AIDS patients on ART.
Fingerprint identification of AIDS patients on ART.
Lancet. 2005 Apr 23-29 ;365(9469):1466.

PubMed
Lack of evidence for craniofacial dysmorphism in perinatal human immunodeficienc...
Lack of evidence for craniofacial dysmorphism in perinatal human immunodeficiency virus infection.
J Pediatr. 1988 Jan ;112(1):7-11.

PubMed
Oct-4: gatekeeper in the beginnings of mammalian development.
Oct-4: gatekeeper in the beginnings of mammalian development.
Stem Cells. 2001 ;19(4):271-8.

PubMed
Progressive apraxia of speech as a sign of motor neuron disease.
Progressive apraxia of speech as a sign of motor neuron disease.
Am J Speech Lang Pathol. 2007 Aug ;16(3):198-208.

PubMed

Your browsing activity is empty.

Activity recording is turned off.

Turn recording back on

PubMed

Display Settings:

Send to: