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'Human evolution didn't slow down; we were just missing the signal': Large DNA study reveals natural selection led to more redheads and less male-pattern baldness
Livescience.com and 2 more
- West Eurasian genomes reveal natural selection operating over 18,000 years, now refined with the AGES method that separates selection signals from other evolutionary processes.
- Researchers identified 479 gene variants under positive selection in West Eurasia, with many linked to traits, appearance, and disease resistance, highlighting ongoing adaptation.
- Selectable traits include lighter skin, red hair, and disease resistance to HIV and leprosy, illustrating how environment and pathogens shaped adaptation.
- Regional adaptive paths vary: some gene variants reduce male-pattern baldness, reflecting region-specific selective pressures.
- AGES enables clearer past adaptation by disentangling selection from other evolutionary processes, widening opportunities for cross-population study.
- Open data and methods (AGES) are freely available, inviting further exploration beyond West Eurasia to map global evolutionary patterns.
- Regional pressures, not the existence of selection, shape different adaptive trajectories across populations.
- Historical disease susceptibility shifted over millennia, with tuberculosis and multiple sclerosis risk variants rising and then falling at different times.
- Findings set the stage for studying other global populations to understand human evolution on a wider scale.
- The study links vitamin D synthesis in low-sun regions to light skin adaptation, supporting vitamin D–driven selection in farming societies.
- Guardian report expands the finding to nearly 16,000 ancient remains and 6,000 living individuals, underscoring continued evolution beyond farming.
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