Complement activation is triggered by target recognition and the data here suggest that the pattern recognition molecules for both classical pathway (C1q and C1r) and lectin pathway (MBL) activation differed for neither the obese nor nonobese cohorts, indicating that in normal homeostasis the alternative pathway is kept in check by the inhibiting proteins and the classical and lectin pathways of complement activation are not activated in PCOS. The gene discussed is MBL2; the disease is polycystic ovary syndrome.