Nature Is Still Molding Human Genes, Study Finds
Slashdot • • health
Key Points:
- A large study analyzing DNA from 15,836 ancient human remains found 479 genetic variants favored by natural selection in the past 10,000 years, challenging the belief that humans have evolved little in this period.
- Researchers identified that a mutation linked to celiac disease emerged about 4,000 years ago and increased in frequency due to natural selection, despite its association with an autoimmune disorder.
- Genetic variants associated with a higher likelihood of smoking have decreased steadily in Europe over 10,000 years, though the reasons remain unclear since tobacco use began only about 460 years ago.
- Some genetic variants, such as those linked to Type B blood and the TYK2 immune gene, showed significant changes over time, with some shifting from beneficial to harmful effects due to changing environmental pressures.
- Natural selection was detected in 44 out of 563 traits studied, including a decline in variants related to Type 2 diabetes and obesity, possibly reflecting adaptations to agricultural diets, while selection for traits like increased years of schooling remains difficult to interpret.
