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Human Evolution Has Accelerated to Favour Traits Like Red Hair, Lower Body Fat: Study
The 15,836-genome analysis found 479 gene variants shifted as farming and later upheavals changed selection pressures, researchers said.
- On Wednesday, Harvard University researchers published findings in Nature analyzing nearly 16,000 ancient DNA samples from West Eurasia, revealing that human evolution accelerated significantly over the past 10,000 years.
- Most previous research suggested directional selection became extremely rare after humans left Africa roughly 300,000 years ago, but the team found evolution instead accelerated as populations shifted to agriculture 10,000 years ago.
- Harvard geneticist David Reich and senior staff scientist Ali Akbari led the project, utilizing a new computational tool to identify 479 gene variants that were strongly selected for or against within the dataset.
- These genetic variants influenced traits like skin tone, hair color, and disease resistance, while some remain linked to modern conditions such as type 2 diabetes and schizophrenia, suggesting complex evolutionary legacies.
- Reich expressed interest in investigating whether similar evolutionary pressures occurred in other populations, and the researchers have made their dataset publicly available for broader scientific analysis across East Asia, East Africa, and among Native Americans.
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Broad Institute
Broad InstituteMassive Ancient-DNA Study Reveals Natural Selection Has Accelerated in Recent Human Evolution
A massive study of ancient DNA from nearly 16,000 people across more than 10,000 years in West Eurasia reveals that natural selection has shaped modern human genomes far more than previously thought.Get more HMS news
·Harvard, United States
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In a new study, researchers have discovered for the first time 500 gene variants, which have become significantly more common or less frequent in the past 10,000 years, and they have found some surprises.
·Zürich, Switzerland
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Leaning Left4Leaning Right6Center12Last UpdatedBias Distribution55% Center
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