Ancient DNA Confirms Ongoing European Evolution, From Red Hair to Immune Traits
TL;DR Summary
A large study of nearly 16,000 ancient genomes and over 6,000 living people shows natural selection continued in Europe for more than 10,000 years, increasing red-hair/fair-skin genes and other advantageous variants while factors linked to disease risk fluctuated; selection intensified after farming, with vitamin D adaptation likely helping in low-sun climates, and some obesity-related genes being selected against. The work, focused on West Eurasia, challenges the idea that evolution slowed after modern humans settled into agriculture and is published in Nature.
- Red hair gene favoured by natural selection over last 10,000 years, study finds The Guardian
- Massive Ancient-DNA Study Reveals Natural Selection Has Accelerated in Recent Human Evolution Harvard Medical School
- Nature Is Still Molding Human Genes, Study Finds The New York Times
- Natural selection ‘favours gingers’, researchers at Harvard find The Telegraph
- Ancient DNA reveals pervasive directional selection across West Eurasia Nature
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