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Human genome reveals signs of recent evolution

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New genetic evidence suggests that evolution has continued to shape our species powerfully over the past 100,000 years. By looking for signals based on how much DNA mutates over generations, researchers found clues that as much as 10 percent of the human genome may be linked to these recent adaptive genetic changes.

Cornell University population geneticist Scott Williamson and colleagues analyzed over a million genetic variations in DNA samples from 24 individuals, including African Americans, European Americans, and Chinese. They were looking for regions in the genome where a beneficial mutation is carried by everyone in a population. Then, by looking at the variability in the DNA surrounding the mutation, the team could figure out how long ago the mutation spread through the population.

More than a hundred sites in the genome showed strong evidence of recent selection, including genes that affect muscle tissue, hair, hearing, immune-system function, skin pigmentation, sense of smell, and the body’s response to heat stress.


by Jennifer Barone
Discover Magazine
http://discovermagazine.com/2008/jan/human-genome-revea...
Localizing Recent Adaptive Evolution in the Human Genome
http://www.plosgenetics.org/article/info:doi/10.1371/jo...
celestialceiling

59 responses // Human genome reveals signs of recent evolution

  • My teeth have been aching lately, and I find myself chewing on pens - like a child during "teething."

    Then I looked closely at my teeth and I noticed that my upper Pre-Molars seem to be DIVIDING like CELLS.

    Each Molar looks like a SET of two teeth, and the gap is widening.

    Link this information with the fact that dentists have actually filled in several of my rear molars with fillings. Proof that the dentists noticed these widening gaps years ago.

    Could this be some form of evolution?


    Many of my friends say they have jaw pains.
    Anyone else notice this or other weird signs of change?
    celestialceiling
    3 responses to this
  • So I guess that shows evidence that genes are still adapting the the enviroment.

    That evidence sort of add less weight to the theory that when people use tools the change the enviroment to suit the people that evolution stops.

    Maybe it's just slowed down a lot.
    Argon18
    1 response to this
  • watch this comment being used here, here, here and here
    ahh, the beauty of confirming what we already know.

    Evolution is a real thing, the idea that humans are immune to it is just silly. Who knows how we will change in the future.

    One theory of mine is that we will soon be living well past 100. With how more and more of the population are having kids late in life, this is a real possibility.
    mooseydoom
    4 responses to this
  • Living past 100 has a lot more to do with adapting the genome and using methods to enhance the body than with the evolution of it.

    No one is immune to it but like when taking species of animals that have certain characteristics and breeding them together to enhance those charateristics or produce new ones makes evolution apply less.
    Argon18
  • Using my evolving sarcastic survival skill.....
    God must have wanted us to change.
    eggsdenison
    6 responses to this
  • Thank god for evolution '-)
    eldamon
  • watch this comment being used here, here, here and here
    This is SO AWESOME to me. I'm kind of an anthropology nerd sometimes and this kind of stuff is my bread and butter.

    I'd love to see exactly what genes have changed and how.
    BenDorries
  • When did the idea come into play that evolution ever stopped? Look at photos and memorabilia from back in the day: everybody is different in each generation. Sure, the style's different, but that's not the only thing. Shapes of faces, body type, posture, etc. These are all noticeably different as time passes. As many I'm sure like to attribute this to changing times, they are so wrong. Evolution is a small step kinda process; we're even taller today than many of those that came before us. How is this not seen as evolution? Just a curious thing to see that it's assumed something that's totally biological and in our genetics just decided one day to nap. Yeah, right.......
    ReddFeary83
    6 responses to this
  • Another showing of evolution is all the different kinds of people there are. I'm not just talking about the difference between black and white either. If you look at caucasions we have a large varieties of different people who have adapted from different parts of the world. For example, you have the irish with different body traits than say, Germans.
    mooseydoom
  • Does this apply to McCain supporters as well?
    LarzNero
    2 responses to this
  • Of course. It happens every generation. Duh
    BretByron
    2 responses to this
  • Thank god we're still evolving (at least in theory). We'll need it.
    24French
    1 response to this
  • I would say if you still dont think evolution is real by now,i think you need to have a Real Big talk with yourslef.

    This new just adds more proof to the proven.
    jinofcoolnes
    1 response to this
  • I cant read much about 'mutation' or 'evolution' before my mind wanders in the general direction of x-men :/

    one day maybe
    Joe_Leo
  • Yeah evolutions happenin'! I'm startin' to see a whole bunch o' white girls with black girl video bootys. What's going on?!
    Neghie
  • Not only are humans evolving but so are gas prices. yay!!!
    timbolinder
  • current is my evolution
    My_Preserver
  • Everything is evolving right now anyway so it only makes sense, with all the crazy changes our environment is taking on that only means were going to have to adapt. Too bad the whole process takes so long, it would be crazy to see all the new things popping up.
    Clambert
  • Scientists have repeated this throughout history, classifying mutations as evidence to evolution.

    Why wouldn't they want to be the first to find a provable link to evolution? After all, there are numerous cash awards among other things for it...

    But they know as well as anyone, we're looking at mutations, not evolutions.

    We should not consider a beneficial mutation a process of evolution.

    We all already know this though: an ambiguous change may often times have an unexpected positive secondary effect, not due to anything but chance.
    thisismattholt
  • Amazing, their still trying to find the missing link. When I was young, the search for the missing link between Ape and man was being looked for to prove evolution.
    The missing link was never found. Now they are looking in DNA. Of course, who can argue with DNA. DNA is like statistic. You can make statistic say anything you want. The same with DNA.
    Knowledge of DNA has been around for about 50 years. It is very large, and very complicated. But geniuses who can support evolution with DNA will get grant money forever.
    Personnally, I do not care, but I sort of like Intelligent Selection, or whatever. Or maybe we are some high school project for a child in a distant universe, and then there's God.
    God had it right in Genisis, when he said "then there was light. While the "Big Bang" theory, states the universe started with a Bang.
    But wait a minute, in order to have a Bang you have to have air. There is no air in outer space, therefore no bang.
    If there was no bang, then God was right, because there would have been a burst of light without a bang at the begining of the universe.
    God 1 Pop Science 0.

    Maybe God was right, and evolution is wrong. Hmmn. Now the evolutional zealots are going to label me to death. Evolutional zealots do not argue with facts, they just label you.
    I hope you got a chuckle out of this diatribe of mine.
    mo1y
    1 response to this
  • Hey Creationists! Oh, wait, 'Intelligent Design' believers:

    Your beliefs are not valid. Wake up, shake off that constricting crap called fundamentalism, and get with the picture!
    benjaminV
    2 responses to this
  • unfortunately, for the human race to evolve any further, most of us would have to die or become infertile.
    flyingkick
  • Dang, I still haven't evolved any super powers yet.

    It will come, you'll see.
    dkl165
  • Have we Proven that evolution is happening? - yes.
    Does this DISPROVE God, Creation, Intelligent Design...? - No
    celestialceiling
    1 response to this
  • CO2, lead, mercury, radiation, strontium 90, pesticides, pharmecuetical drugs, acid rain, gmbh, red die no#5, etc., etc., of course we will see genetic changes/mutations... Have any of you studied the evolution of the scavenger cockroach? They are very adaptable!
    jjmaster
  • while evolution and adaption are linked they do not neccessarily prove each other. You can not say that since there is adaptation then there must have been evolution.
    muffin2062
  • The definition of evolution is 'change over time'
    RoxyB
  • there is a big difference between evolution and adaptation, It's funny that the folks who don't know this are talking about how happy they are to be evolving - into what? something dumber?
    shadowtrekker
  • Maybe the genome of our population will mutate within the next 50 years to make us impervious to the effects of global warming, famine from rising food costs, nuclear war, and inept authorities...

    Then we wouldn't have to worry about these things anymore. Come on nature, throw us a bone.
    CicatrizJCP
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