Overview
- Published in Proceedings of the Royal Society B, the University of Cambridge study introduces a standardized sibling-based metric across 35 mammal species.
- Humans averaged a 66% full-sibling rate, ranking seventh and placing between beavers at 72.9% and meerkats at 60%.
- The dataset spans 103 human populations, with Neolithic Anatolia and Bronze Age European burials showing rates similar to modern societies.
- The metric reflects reproductive outcomes rather than sexual behavior, which in humans can diverge due to contraception and cultural practices.
- Species scores ranged from the deermouse at a reported 100% (likely affected by sparse data) to chimpanzees around 4% and Soay sheep about 0.6%, supporting the study’s conclusion that monogamy is generally dominant in humans.