Human adaptation over the past 40,000 years.

Human adaptation over the past 40,000 years.
Curr Opin Genet Dev. 2020 Jul 31;62:97-104
Authors: Mathieson I
Abstract
Over the past few years several methodological and data-driven advances have greatly improved our ability to robustly detect genomic signatures of selection in humans. New methods applied to large samples of present-day genomes provide increased power, while ancient DNA allows precise estimation of timing and tempo. However, despite these advances, we are still limited in our ability to translate these signatures into understanding about which traits were actually under selection, and why. Combining information from different populations and timescales may allow interpretation of selective sweeps. Other modes of selection have proved more difficult to detect. In particular, despite strong evidence of the polygenicity of most human traits, evidence for polygenic selection is weak, and its importance in recent human evolution remains unclear. Balancing selection and archaic introgression seem important for the maintenance of potentially adaptive immune diversity, but perhaps less so for other traits.
PMID: 32745952 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher]

Source: Current Opinion in Genetics and Development - July 30, 2020 Category: Genetics & Stem Cells Authors: Mathieson I Tags: Curr Opin Genet Dev Source Type: research