Are Italians more sexy because of their higher genetic diversity ?

[Maciamo]

It is a scientifically proven fact that the more different the genetic make-up of two people, and particularily that of their MHC, the stronger will be the sexual attraction between them.

Our MHC give other people (unconscious) clues about our immune system. We are more attracted towards those with immune systems very different from ours, so that our offspring with them will inherit of both and be stronger.

Maybe that is one of the reason why it is so much easier to fall in love or find a partner abroad (at least for Europeans or Asians, not for people in countries founded on immigration) than at home. Maybe it is also why Americans, who live in a very ethnically diverse society (esp. in big cities) have more sex, get married more (fall more often in love ?) and divorce more (once the chemical love disappears).

As for Italians, they are the descendents of the citizens of one of history's biggest melting pot, Rome, capital of the Roman Empire for nearly 500 years. More than any other city in the empire, Rome attracted people from all over Europe, North Africa and the Middle East. The Romans were notoriously promiscuous (esp. in Rome itself) and it was common for a man not to be sure whether his wife or concubine's children were really his - even at the top of the hierarchy (or maybe even more so).

In such an environment, it is likely that the men with the best genes (= the most sexy and attractive to women) transmitted their genes at a much higher rate than in more monogamous and faithful societies. After centuries of competition for the best genes, it is only natural that the offspring of the Romans ended up being more genetically attractive than elsewhere in the empire.

Southern Italy also benefited from the mixture between Greek, Italic, Arabic and Norman genes. Northern Italians have inherited of Celtic, Estruscan, Germanic (Gothic, Lombard, Bavarian) and Slavic/Illyrian (through Venice) genes.

The more northern, central and southern Italians intermingled during the 1500 years after the fall of Rome, the more those genes completed each others, giving modern Italians what is probably the most complex genetic make-up and the most competitive genetic attractiveness in the world, or at least in Europe.

This may be why both Italian females and (even more so ?) males seem to be irresistibly charming and sexy to most other people in the world.

It may simply be that they are the fruit of the most competive sexual selection in human history so far based on pure attractiveness (as opposed to wealth, power or whatever other factor).

[billthebutcher]

Yes, especially the Italian women.
Its just my humble opinion, indeed.

[JackMack]

It is a scientifically proven fact that the more different the genetic make-up of two people, and particularily that of their MHC, the stronger will be the sexual attraction between them.

Our MHC give other people (unconscious) clues about our immune system. We are more attracted towards those with immune systems very different from ours, so that our offspring with them will inherit of both and be stronger.

Maybe that is one of the reason why it is so much easier to fall in love or find a partner abroad (at least for Europeans or Asians, not for people in countries founded on immigration) than at home. Maybe it is also why Americans, who live in a very ethnically diverse society (esp. in big cities) have more sex, get married more (fall more often in love ?) and divorce more (once the chemical love disappears).

As for Italians, they are the descendents of the citizens of one of history's biggest melting pot, Rome, capital of the Roman Empire for nearly 500 years. More than any other city in the empire, Rome attracted people from all over Europe, North Africa and the Middle East. The Romans were notoriously promiscuous (esp. in Rome itself) and it was common for a man not to be sure whether his wife or concubine's children were really his - even at the top of the hierarchy (or maybe even more so).

In such an environment, it is likely that the men with the best genes (= the most sexy and attractive to women) transmitted their genes at a much higher rate than in more monogamous and faithful societies. After centuries of competition for the best genes, it is only natural that the offspring of the Romans ended up being more genetically attractive than elsewhere in the empire.

Southern Italy also benefited from the mixture between Greek, Italic, Arabic and Norman genes. Northern Italians have inherited of Celtic, Estruscan, Germanic (Gothic, Lombard, Bavarian) and Slavic/Illyrian (through Venice) genes.

The more northern, central and southern Italians intermingled during the 1500 years after the fall of Rome, the more those genes completed each others, giving modern Italians what is probably the most complex genetic make-up and the most competitive genetic attractiveness in the world, or at least in Europe.

This may be why both Italian females and (even more so ?) males seem to be irresistibly charming and sexy to most other people in the world.

It may simply be that they are the fruit of the most competive sexual selection in human history so far based on pure attractiveness (as opposed to wealth, power or whatever other factor).

I agree-love the Italians!

[Marianne]

I am having a hard time distinguishing Italians (especially those from central Italy) from Greeks. It's only clear to me when they start talking :P

There is a saying in Greece: una faccia una razza (meaning same face same race) that we use when we are referring to Italians.

However, I have noticed that southern Italians look more exotic than the central/northern ones. Italian women from southern Italy are considered very sexy in Greece, in fact there are a few Italian actresses that are very successful at the Greek tv :P As for Italian men, i don't find them a lot sexier than the Greek ones, except for their language which I find really sexy

[Maciamo]

In terms of Y-DNA southern Italians are closer to Greeks than to northern Italians or anybody else. Southern Italy was colonised by Greeks in several waves from the Neolithic period to Classical Greece.

Based on my observations, the Italian sexiness is a nationwide phenomenon, although people in Central Italy (e.g. Rome and Naples) gave me the impression of being particularly sexy.

[Marianne]

In terms of Y-DNA southern Italians are closer to Greeks than to northern Italians or anybody else. Southern Italy was colonised by Greeks in several waves from the Neolithic period to Classical Greece.

Yes and that surprises me. We learn that Greeks colonised southern Italy at elementary school but when I see southern Italians they look more Spanish than Greeks compared to central Italians that in my opinion look more like Greeks. Maybe it has to do with the fact that southern Italy was colonised by others also.

[JackMack]

Yes and that surprises me. We learn that Greeks colonised southern Italy at elementary school but when I see southern Italians they look more Spanish than Greeks compared to central Italians that in my opinion look more like Greeks. Maybe it has to do with the fact that southern Italy was colonised by others also.

That's odd because through all of my extensive travels in Italy the southern Italians were generally lighter in appearance then the central italians and only small enclaves in northern Italy were the lighest.

[Maciamo]

That's odd because through all of my extensive travels in Italy the southern Italians were generally lighter in appearance then the central italians and only small enclaves in northern Italy were the lighest.

This map of fair hair frequency in Italy was published by Renato Biasutti based on earlier data from Rodolfo Livi. There is a clear north-south gradient, with fairer hair in the North. I don't see why you want to argue the opposite. Are you a blond-haired southern Italian who has issues with southerners not being as blond as northerners or what ?

[PreteRosso]

As an Italian I have to spend some words on this very interesting topic. It is commonly believed that Southern Italians have very dark traits, and for sure darker than Northern and Central Italians. While this can be considered true as a rule of thumb, it is true nonetheless that in Southern Italy you can find the largest volatility of physical features. It is probably the European region with the highest dispersion of traits, because it has been conquered, among the others, by: Greeks, Romans, Byzantines, Turks, Arabs, Lombards, Normans, French, Spaniards. So that's why someone can find Central Italians in a sense darker, or anyway more homogeneous, more similar to the image of the "typical" Italian.
Except maybe for Calabria, in any other place of Southern Italy a family with Moorish ancestors, looking almost Middle-Eastern, can live in the same building as a family with German ancestors, that looks totally Northern European. That is an incredible variety, difficult to find in any other place of Europe (except for big migration cities). I am myself an example of this mixture, my parents being two Southeners with totally different genetic traits (one dark-skinned and dark-haired and one descendant of Norman migrants).
There is not a typical Italian: there are only more common features (like dark hair) and places with less variety of characteristics.
And of course, this wide melting of DNAs favoured our being so good-looking! ;).

[Genocentrist]

Yes and that surprises me. We learn that Greeks colonised southern Italy at elementary school but when I see southern Italians they look more Spanish than Greeks compared to central Italians that in my opinion look more like Greeks. Maybe it has to do with the fact that southern Italy was colonised by others also.

It depends what you consider Central Italy?

To me Italy varies town to town, the division of South, Central & north is not Enough.

I apologize I don't think admixture means beautiful, otherwise the South Bronx will be heaven on Earth

Italy was a strong civilized region for a very long time, which means crude males had lower chances to mate with beautiful females. In civilized socieities the better looking males advance easier & have more sex making more children. Its really up to the females & males any society can become near perfect if reproduction is restricted to the best (whatever these people standards are)

Admixture allows chances for better breeding, but not all the time. Sometimes we get by unattractive results, next time you visit NYC take a drive in South Bronx (very mixed area) and try to find an attractive female

[Genocentrist]

This map of fair hair frequency in Italy was published by Renato Biasutti based on earlier data from Rodolfo Livi. There is a clear north-south gradient, with fairer hair in the North. I don't see why you want to argue the opposite. Are you a blond-haired southern Italian who has issues with southerners not being as blond as northerners or what ?

Beautiful Map it shows Sardinia dark hair which is additional evidence that the modern Sardinians are the closest to the native Paleolithic I2 - Dinarid Europids

[Sybilla]

Actually most Italians are a mix of Italics and Celts, so they are pretty omogeneous genetically, but in phenotypes there are dark and light Italians so people sometimes think that we are offspring of more peoples.

About Greeks, their genetical contribution in Sicily is so high that we can consider Sicily a part of Greece speaking Italian and with Italian names. Before the Roman conquest, Sicily was perceived from Greeks as a part of Greece (Magna Graecia) and just after the fall of the Empire the Bizantines retook Sicily.

Sardinia in an other exception in Italy becouse Sardinians descend not from Italics but from Shardana, a neolithic people. They are different from other Italians and Sicilians too.

[Sybilla]

In terms of Y-DNA southern Italians are closer to Greeks than to northern Italians or anybody else. Southern Italy was colonised by Greeks in several waves from the Neolithic period to Classical Greece.

Based on my observations, the Italian sexiness is a nationwide phenomenon, although people in Central Italy (e.g. Rome and Naples) gave me the impression of being particularly sexy.

I am fron central Italy very close to Rome

[Reinaert]

Hmm.. In The Netherlands also live people from different backgrounds.
As a man, my opinion is that at least women from mixed parents (Dutch and non Dutch) have a tendency to more appealing than women that are original Dutch.

But I think that is a natural thing.
Boys who grow up with a blondes, are more interested in darker types.
On the other hand, blond is more appealing to darker haired men.

But the problem for men is they want a woman who has at least 4 properties.

1 Good looking
2 Rich
3 Gentle and nice
4 Honest and loyal

And have you ever seen such a woman? Send me a pm if you do ;)

The same goes for men anyway.

[Mzungu mchagga]

OMG, the genetic diversity in Germany must be alarming low...

[Reinaert]

OMG, the genetic diversity in Germany must be alarming low...

Haha.. But there are good looking German women..

Hmm.. As I can remember..

1 Nena.
2 Nina Hagen (kind of kinky)

At least 2 ;)

[Cambrius (The Red)]

As an Italian I have to spend some words on this very interesting topic. It is commonly believed that Southern Italians have very dark traits, and for sure darker than Northern and Central Italians. While this can be considered true as a rule of thumb, it is true nonetheless that in Southern Italy you can find the largest volatility of physical features. It is probably the European region with the highest dispersion of traits, because it has been conquered, among the others, by: Greeks, Romans, Byzantines, Turks, Arabs, Lombards, Normans, French, Spaniards. So that's why someone can find Central Italians in a sense darker, or anyway more homogeneous, more similar to the image of the "typical" Italian.
Except maybe for Calabria, in any other place of Southern Italy a family with Moorish ancestors, looking almost Middle-Eastern, can live in the same building as a family with German ancestors, that looks totally Northern European. That is an incredible variety, difficult to find in any other place of Europe (except for big migration cities). I am myself an example of this mixture, my parents being two Southeners with totally different genetic traits (one dark-skinned and dark-haired and one descendant of Norman migrants).
There is not a typical Italian: there are only more common features (like dark hair) and places with less variety of characteristics.
And of course, this wide melting of DNAs favoured our being so good-looking! ;).

Autosomal DNA studies show Southern Italians clustering with Greeks, and Northern Italians clustering with Spaniards, Portuguese and French. See the latest Dienekes and Polako ancestry projects for examples.

[LeBrok]

Hmm.. In The Netherlands also live people from different backgrounds.
As a man, my opinion is that at least women from mixed parents (Dutch and non Dutch) have a tendency to more appealing than women that are original Dutch.

But I think that is a natural thing.
Boys who grow up with a blondes, are more interested in darker types.
On the other hand, blond is more appealing to darker haired men.

But the problem for men is they want a woman who has at least 4 properties.

1 Good looking
2 Rich
3 Gentle and nice
4 Honest and loyal

And have you ever seen such a woman? Send me a pm if you do ;)

The same goes for men anyway.

Wow, I can't believe you said Rich!
I'm sure you meant "Dirty".



Don't mind, just a little jock.

[Regulus]

Just my fortune - I don't get the height that may be expected from my Irish side and I don't get any attractiveness from my Italian side.

[Drac]

That's odd because through all of my extensive travels in Italy the southern Italians were generally lighter in appearance then the central italians and only small enclaves in northern Italy were the lighest.

If what he/she said was true (which it isn't), that hardly would be "odd". Greece is not "fairer" than Spain.

[Melusine]

From a womens POV:

What exactly is "sexy"?. I would say that the men that have the most "offspring" are the sexiest on earth.

The population in Italy is a bit over 58 million. The population in China is One Billion , 347 million plus.

Go figure!

Melusine

[Sybilla]

From a womens POV:

What exactly is "sexy"?.

I am a brunette and find extremely attractive blonde men, in particular those of germanic origins. I must admit that blonde Italians look more germanic than celtic or slavic, so I put in the list also blonde Italian men (and there are, believe me). An athletic blonde man with a beautiful smile makes me die.

Autosomal DNA studies show Southern Italians clustering with Greeks, and Northern Italians clustering with Spaniards, Portuguese and French. See the latest Dienekes and Polako ancestry projects for examples.

And central Italians? In central Greeks didn't come, so I don't expect us to cluster with Greeks. From what I have read central Italians cluster more with Yugoslavians, but I ignore why.

[Cambrius (The Red)]

I am a brunette and find extremely attractive blonde men, in particular those of germanic origins. I must admit that blonde Italians look more germanic than celtic or slavic, so I put in the list also blonde Italian men (and there are, believe me). An athletic blonde man with a beautiful smile makes me die.



And central Italians? In central Greeks didn't come, so I don't expect us to cluster with Greeks. From what I have read central Italians cluster more with Yugoslavians, but I ignore why.

I know that Tuscans (Central Italy) autosomally fall between Balkanites and N. Italians.

[Regulus]

I am a brunette and find extremely attractive blonde men, in particular those of germanic origins. I must admit that blonde Italians look more germanic than celtic or slavic, so I put in the list also blonde Italian men (and there are, believe me). An athletic blonde man with a beautiful smile makes me die.



And central Italians? In central Greeks didn't come, so I don't expect us to cluster with Greeks. From what I have read central Italians cluster more with Yugoslavians, but I ignore why.

I remember reading that by around 1000 BCE, Italy was colonized by a migration of Illyrians all along the Adriatic coast and west to the Apennines. I am not sure if this is believed to be mostly by sea or by land. I would guess by sea as there was not much evidence of them at the time in the Northeast of Italy, which still appears to have had quite a few Italics at that point.

[Wilhelm]

And central Italians? In central Greeks didn't come, so I don't expect us to cluster with Greeks. From what I have read central Italians cluster more with Yugoslavians, but I ignore why.

If we consider Tuscans as central Italians, they cluster between North Italians and South Italians, as expected. Some greeks might also cluster with central Italians, apart from South Italians.