Guides: ANTH 121 Guide for Dr. Sarah King: Mechanisms of Evolution: Articles

Articles About Gene Flow

Bayesian Inference of Ancient Human Demography from Individual Genome Sequences / Ilan Gronau, et al.
An effort to estimate key evolutionary parameters based on the whole-genome sequences of six individuals from diverse human populations introduces new methods for accommodating gene flow between populations.
The Fate of the Neanderthals / Fred H. Smith, et al.
The overlap of Neandertal and early modern peoples for several millennia in the heart of Europe allowed considerable opportunity for various interactions. The likelihood of gene flow between the groups is supported by evidence that Neandertals left their mark on early modern Europeans.
Gene Lineages and Human Evolution / Alan R. Templeton and Francisco J. Ayala
There is direct genetic evidence that recurrent migrations and inbreeding among prehistoric human populations of different continents occurred. A pattern of continental distributions of geographical and mitochondrial DNA data could have resulted from recurrent gene flow.
Human X-Chromosomal Lineages in Europe Reveal Middle Eastern and Asiatic Contacts / Feng-Xia Xiao, et al.
Analysis of a sample of 1203 Eurasian chromosomes reveals no significant genetic structure in Europe, and a low but significant genetic structure, rooted in Middle Eastern heterogeneity. This structure was not correlated to either geography or language, indicating that neither of these factors are a barrier to gene flow within Europe and/or the Middle East.
Insights on Human Evolution: An Analysis of Alu Insertion Polymorphisms / Maria C.Terreros, et al.
Phylogenetic analyses of the genetic profiles of individuals from Europe, Asia, and Africa revealed clear correspondence between genetic profiles and historical patterns of gene flow and genetic drift.
Out of Africa Again and Again / Alan R. Templeton
Analyzes human haplotype trees from regions in Africa to discover the role of the country in shaping the modern human gene pool; ubiquity of genetic interchange between human population; contribution of gene flow and interbreeding in shaping the human species.
Signatures of Environmental Genetic Adaptation Pinpoint Pathogens as the Main Selective Pressure Through Human Evolution / Matteo Fumagalli, et al.
Investigates the degree to which natural selection is primarily driven by adaptation to local environments, and the role of pathogens or other ecological factors as selective agents.
Updating Human Origins / David Wilcox
Reviews recent studies that discuss evidence of multiple geneflows between archaic hominines and Homo sapiens, and cerebral modernization and increasing technical and social complexity in Homo Sapiens over 400,000 years ago.

Articles About Mutation

The DNA Profiles of These Two Are Nearly 99 Percent the Same
Information on the two deep truths about people: all humans are closely related and all people alive are Africans. Genetic diversity allows scientists to reconstruct a family tree of human populations. The evolution of homo sapiens in Africa is stated. The genetic changes which are the result of random mutations is emphasized.
Genome Evolution: Adaptive Human Regulatory Variation / Hannah Stower
Presents a study that has found evidence for a pervasive role of binding site mutation in human evolution since the split from chimpanzees.
How We Are Evolving / Jonathan K. Pritchard
Topics include an overview of a hypothesis which states that the inability of early humans to overcome challenges with prehistoric technology would lead to novel genetic mutations spreading rapidly through different populations by natural selection.
The Milk Revolution: When a Single Genetic Mutation First Let Ancient Europeans Drink Milk, It Set the Stage for a Continental Upheaval / Andrew Curry
Describes the discovery of a genetic mutation which spread through Europe that gave mature humans the ability to produce lactase --and drink milk--throughout their lives. That adaptation opened up a rich new source of nutrition.
Revising the Human Mutation Rate: Implications for Understanding Human Evolution / Aylwyn Scally and Richard Durbin
A new method of the measuring mutation rate in modern humans has implications for our understanding of demographic events in human evolution and other aspects of population genetics. Here, we discuss the implications of a lower-than-expected mutation rate in relation to the timescale of human evolution.
Still Evolving (After All These Years) / John Hawks
Topics include dietary adaptation, genetic mutations in human evolution, and how genetic variations have shaped human appearance. Information is provided on skin pigment differences among humans and how lactose intolerance is a byproduct of human evolution.
Studies Slow the Human DNA Clock: Revised Estimates of Mutation Rates Bring Genetic Accounts of Human Prehistory into Line with Archaeological Data / Ewen Callaway
Improved estimates of DNA mutation rates during human evolution have led to fewer differences and more agreement between the fields of genetics and archaeology regarding human history.

Articles About Genetic Drift

Detecting Genetic Drift Versus Selection in Human Evolution / Rebecca Rogers Ackermann and James M. Cheverud
Applied quantitative evolutionary theory shows that though selection may have played an important role in diversifying hominin facial morphology in the late Pliocene, this is not the case during the early evolution of the genus Homo, where genetic drift was probably the primary force responsible for facial diversification.
The Fine-Scale Genetic Structure and Evolution of the Japanese Population / Fumihiko Takeuchi, et al.
Results of a study which analyzed the genetic structure of three genetically distinct Japanese population groups -- Hondo (99% of the Japanese), Ryukyu and Ainu -- and combined the Japanese data with 26 other Asian populations. Genetic differentiation between Ryukyu and Hondo was suggested to be caused in part by positive selection, but among the Hondo clusters it appeared to result principally from genetic drift.
Hominin Evolution in the Middle-Late Pleistocene: Fossils, Adaptive Scenarios, and Alternatives / Osbjorn M. Pearson
Explores the role of genetic drift in development of anatomical differences between Neanderthals and modern humans, that genetic drift accelerated during periods of low population numbers, while selection operated best when populations were large and expanding. Data suggest that European hominins were primarily shaped by drift, while both factors operated in Africa.
Mixture and Genetic Drift in Ongoing Human Evolution / Gabriel Ward Lasker
Modern genetic-based theory explains evolutionary changes on the basis of four factors. The present paper is concerned with an effort to estimate the roles of two of these factors, drift and mixture, in certain specific contemporary situations and to assess their relative importance.
Natural Selection Is the Only Means of Evolution / Michael LePage
Discusses the implication of genetic drift in human mutations. DNA is constantly subjected to various chemical and radiation, making it susceptible to mutations in the embryo. This has played a significant role in human evolution, suggesting genetic differences are mostly due to genetic drifts rather than natural selection.
Novel Insights on Demographic History of Tribal and Caste Groups from West Maharashtra (India) Using Genome-Wide Data / Guilherme Debortoli, et al.
A study of genome-wide data provides insights on the demographic history and population relationships of six Indo-European populations from the Indian State of West Maharashtra shows that tribal groups have had much smaller effective population sizes than castes, and that genetic drift has had a higher impact in tribal populations.
The Role of Geography in Human Adaptation / Graham Coop, et al.
Study of genetic variations in geographically distributed populations reveal few fixed or nearly fixed differences between human populations. This suggests that selection is often weak enough that neutral processes-especially population history, migration, and drift--exert powerful influences over the fate and geographic distribution of selected gene variants.

Articles About Natural Selection

The Combined Effects of Selection and Migration in Human Evolution / R. W. Hiorns and G. A. Harrison
A computer simulation to investigate the combined effects of natural selection and gene flow suggests that even when gene flow is reinforced by selection it is unlikely to account
alone for the integrity of the human species.
Exploring the Evolutionary History of the Differentially Expressed Genes between Human Populations: Action of Recent Positive Selection / Wei Zhang, et al.
Describes a study aimed at gaining insights into how recent positive selection has played a role in the variations observed in the current European and African populations.
Following the Signposts of Selection / Louisa Flintoft
Discusses two papers which identified regions and genes that have experienced selection during human evolution; gene expression differences between humans and other primates; identification of regions containing alleles that have been under selection.
Group Selection May Explain Cancer Predisposition and Other Human Traits’ Evolution / Konstantinos Voskarides
Debate among evolutionary biologists regarding group selection, and possibility that group selection may be a cause of increased genetic variation on DNA repair genes driving high cancer incidence.
Interbreeding with Neanderthals / Carl Zimmer
Discusses the research of geneticist David Reich regarding the interbreeding of homo sapiens and related hominin species. Topics include tracking genetic patterns through mitochondrial DNA, the prevalence of non-human DNA, and effects of interbreeding on the evolutionary health and traits of modern humans through natural selection.
Skin Deep / Nina G. Jablonski and George Chaplin
A new framework for understanding the evolutionary basis of variations in human skin color suggests that the worldwide pattern of human skin color is the product of natural selection to regulate the effects of the sun's ultraviolet radiation on key nutrients crucial to reproductive success.

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ANTH 121 Guide for Dr. Sarah King: Mechanisms of Evolution: Articles

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Articles About Gene Flow

Articles About Mutation

Articles About Genetic Drift

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