Social Rank Linked to Immune Health
Interesting article about small groups of female primates and social status. The findings support that social status is, in part, predicted by certain gene-related immune system function.
"They found that on the basis of those levels of circulating immune cells alone, they could predict an individual female's social rank with 80% accuracy."
It isn't clear how broadly these findings apply (outside captivity, larger groups, non-primates, males, etc.), but it's interesting to think that social status isn't necessarily a (completely) behavioral function.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-17663133
"They found that on the basis of those levels of circulating immune cells alone, they could predict an individual female's social rank with 80% accuracy."
It isn't clear how broadly these findings apply (outside captivity, larger groups, non-primates, males, etc.), but it's interesting to think that social status isn't necessarily a (completely) behavioral function.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-17663133
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