Ancient DNA Reveals Humans Still Evolving Through Natural Selection

A large-scale study of 15,836 ancient human remains finds 479 genetic variants that appear to have been favored by natural selection in the past 10,000 years, with thousands more likely affected. Notably, a mutation linked to celiac disease emerged about 4,000 years ago and rose in frequency, while variants associated with smoking have become rarer in Europe. Other changes include TYK2-related immune variants and shifts around blood-type genetics, with signals detected in 44 of 563 traits. The findings suggest humans are evolving in ways that are not fully explained by culture or technology, though the exact forces remain unclear.