Androgen Levels and Body Size Are Associated with Directional and Fluctuating Asymmetry Patterns in Adult !Kung San and Kavango Males from Northern Namibia

The study examined the relationship between androgen levels, body size, and asymmetry patterns in 250 adult males from the !Kung San and Kavango populations in northern Namibia. It found that !Kung San males exhibited greater asymmetry compared to Kavango males, with higher levels of 5α-dihydrotestosterone (DHT) negatively correlated with asymmetry among !Kung San males, suggesting a link between higher androgen levels and a high-quality phenotype. Kavango males had higher androgen levels and larger body sizes. The study highlighted weak correlations between asymmetry patterns and androgen levels, indicating potential markers of developmental stability and phenotype quality, with significant differences observed between the two groups.