Abdel Abdellaoui
@dr-appie.bsky.social
Complex Trait Genetics | Population Genetics | Evolutionary Genetics
https://scholar.google.nl/citations?user=hsyseKEAAAAJ&hl=en
https://scholar.google.nl/citations?user=hsyseKEAAAAJ&hl=en
Can I just do it again?
September 19, 2025 at 8:59 AM
Can I just do it again?
Brendan Zietsch wrote a good and accessible summary of our paper here: theconversation.com/1-of-people-...
1% of people don’t have sex. New research shows it may be partly genetic
A study of more than 400,000 people found 1% had never had sex – which was linked to a range of genetic, environmental and other factors.
theconversation.com
September 18, 2025 at 6:46 AM
Brendan Zietsch wrote a good and accessible summary of our paper here: theconversation.com/1-of-people-...
And we loved attending this, thank you for organizing and hosting an unforgettable workshop, we had a great time and learned a lot! ♥️🧬
September 18, 2025 at 6:13 AM
And we loved attending this, thank you for organizing and hosting an unforgettable workshop, we had a great time and learned a lot! ♥️🧬
Many thanks to my co–first author @laurawesseldijk.bsky.social (🥰), co–last authors Brendan Zietsch & Karin Verweij, and all other co-authors ❤️
Check out the paper here: www.pnas.org/doi/10.1073/...
Check out the paper here: www.pnas.org/doi/10.1073/...
Life without sex: Large-scale study links sexlessness to physical, cognitive, and personality traits, socioecological factors, and DNA | PNAS
Romantic (typically sexual) relationships are important to personal, physical, mental,
social, and economic well-being, and to human evolution. Yet...
www.pnas.org
September 16, 2025 at 8:26 PM
Many thanks to my co–first author @laurawesseldijk.bsky.social (🥰), co–last authors Brendan Zietsch & Karin Verweij, and all other co-authors ❤️
Check out the paper here: www.pnas.org/doi/10.1073/...
Check out the paper here: www.pnas.org/doi/10.1073/...
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.
The associations we find are correlational and likely to be culture-specific, so more research is needed.
September 16, 2025 at 8:26 PM
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.
The associations we find are correlational and likely to be culture-specific, so more research is needed.
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
- Higher education & IQ
- Less substance use
- Higher autism & anorexia risk
- Lower ADHD, anxiety, depression & PTSD risk
September 16, 2025 at 8:26 PM
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
- Higher education & IQ
- Less substance use
- Higher autism & anorexia risk
- Lower ADHD, anxiety, depression & PTSD risk
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.
Ancient DNA shows an allele significantly associated with sexlessness declined over 12,000 years, consistent with natural selection.
September 16, 2025 at 8:26 PM
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.
Ancient DNA shows an allele significantly associated with sexlessness declined over 12,000 years, consistent with natural selection.
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.
Men in regions with fewer women were more likely to be sexless.
Sexlessness was also more common in regions with higher income inequality.
September 16, 2025 at 8:26 PM
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.
Men in regions with fewer women were more likely to be sexless.
Sexlessness was also more common in regions with higher income inequality.
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.
- 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.
September 16, 2025 at 8:26 PM
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.
- 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.
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”.
~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”.
September 16, 2025 at 8:26 PM
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”.
~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”.