Recent Adaptive Evolution in the Human Genome
Author Information
Author(s): Williamson Scott H, Hubisz Melissa J, Clark Andrew G, Payseur Bret A, Bustamante Carlos D, Nielsen Rasmus
Primary Institution: Cornell University
Hypothesis
How does adaptive evolution affect DNA sequence polymorphism within human populations?
Conclusion
The study identifies 101 regions in the human genome that show strong evidence of recent selective sweeps, indicating that adaptation is pervasive.
Supporting Evidence
- 101 regions of the human genome show strong evidence of recent selective sweeps.
- 10% of the genome may be affected by linkage to a selective sweep.
- Evidence of selective sweeps was found in pigmentation pathways and immune system genes.
- Centromeric regions also showed consistent evidence of selection.
- Population-specific selective sweeps were observed in European-American and Chinese samples.
Takeaway
Scientists looked at human DNA to find places where our genes have changed recently because of evolution, and they found many such changes.
Methodology
The study used a composite likelihood ratio test to analyze genomic data from 1.2 million SNPs across different human populations.
Potential Biases
Potential biases from SNP ascertainment protocols could affect the results.
Limitations
The study may not fully account for the effects of demographic history on the detection of selective sweeps.
Participant Demographics
The study analyzed genomic data from African-American, European-American, and Chinese samples.
Statistical Information
P-Value
0.00006
Statistical Significance
p < 0.00001
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)
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