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Population Genetics

All articles tagged with #population genetics

Late Neanderthals Were Genetically Diverse, Challenging Inbreeding Doom Theory
science2 months ago

Late Neanderthals Were Genetically Diverse, Challenging Inbreeding Doom Theory

A high-resolution genetic study of 27 late Neanderthals from Belgium and France shows low inbreeding and widespread population connectivity, arguing that genetic deterioration was unlikely the main cause of their extinction. The findings suggest a diverse, interconnected NW European Neanderthal population amid ecological pressures and demographic shifts, with limited evidence of Neanderthal-to-human DNA transfer and a largely asymmetric flow of genes into modern humans.

via ScienceAlert|
#ancient-dna#human-neanderthal-interbreeding#inbreeding
Northwestern Neanderthals formed a connected population with no recent human admixture
science2 months ago

Northwestern Neanderthals formed a connected population with no recent human admixture

Genome data from 27 late Neanderthals in the Meuse Basin and a high-coverage Goyet genome show northwestern European Neanderthals were a closely related, broadly connected population with limited kin-based inbreeding, no evidence of recent modern-human introgression, and greater connectivity than eastern Neanderthals. A GN1–Vindija relationship places these western Neanderthals in a shared population history around 54,000 years ago, while mtDNA reveals multiple lineages and Y chromosomes do not cluster by site. The results support an isolation-by-distance pattern rather than a single local group and find no clear rise in genetic load over time to explain extinction. Modern human ancestry in Eurasia appears linked to Vindija-like Neanderthals outside NW Europe; overall, western Neanderthals were diverse and interconnected in their final millennia.

via Nature|
#ancient-dna#meuse-basin#neanderthals
Diverse, Connected Neanderthals Challenge the Extinction Narrative
human-history2 months ago

Diverse, Connected Neanderthals Challenge the Extinction Narrative

A 27-Neanderthal genome study from Belgium and France shows late Neanderthals were genetically diverse and part of connected regional populations, challenging the idea of a single declining group; they carry no clear rise in harmful mutations, and while Neanderthals contributed DNA to modern humans, there was little reciprocal gene flow, highlighting regional extinction patterns and a more nuanced history.

via Gizmodo|
#ancient-dna#human-evolution#human-history
Ancient DNA Maps the Long Arc of Human Adaptation
science3 months ago

Ancient DNA Maps the Long Arc of Human Adaptation

Nature Genetics’ 2026 review synthesizes how ancient DNA enables direct observation of genetic changes over time, detailing how humans adapted to shifts in diet, mobility, pathogen exposure, and environment; it reviews methods for detecting selection in ancient genomes, assesses the impact of major migrations and admixture, links findings across continents and archaeological contexts, and outlines future challenges and opportunities for using ancient DNA to uncover adaptive insights that aren’t apparent from modern genomes alone.

via Nature|
#admixture#ancient-dna#human-adaptation
4,500-Year-Old Skeleton Bridges North Africa and Mesopotamia in a Single Genome
science4 months ago

4,500-Year-Old Skeleton Bridges North Africa and Mesopotamia in a Single Genome

DNA from a 4,500-year-old Egyptian skeleton yielded the oldest complete genome from Old Kingdom Egypt, showing ~80% ancestry from North Africa (Morocco) and ~20% from Mesopotamia, evidence of early gene flow between Egypt and Mesopotamia during the rise of Pharaonic civilization; isotopic data place the individual in the Nile Valley and his burial suggests higher social status, highlighting a more interconnected ancient world and guiding future ancient-genome recovery.

via The Daily Galaxy|
#ancient-dna#archaeology#egypt
Genome reveals forest ancestry hidden in Africa’s savanna elephants, guiding conservation
science4 months ago

Genome reveals forest ancestry hidden in Africa’s savanna elephants, guiding conservation

A continent-wide genomic analysis of 232 African elephants (savanna Loxodonta africana and forest L. cyclotis) shows a deep species split with forest elephants more genetically diverse and historically larger effective population sizes, while savanna elephants display more inbreeding and higher genetic load. The study also uncovers widespread forest-into-savanna introgression, including recent hybrids at the DRC–Uganda and Garamba zones, plus trace forest ancestry across savanna populations in west-central Africa. Despite high within-species connectivity, human-driven habitat fragmentation has produced isolated peripheral populations with elevated runs of homozygosity, underscoring the need to maintain habitat connectivity and protected-area networks to preserve genetic diversity and potential fitness. These findings highlight gene flow as a key evolutionary force and provide genomic guidance for conservation of Africa’s keystone elephants.

via Nature|
#conservation#elephants#genomics
Ancient Neanderthal Men Likely Paired More Often with Early Humans
science5 months ago

Ancient Neanderthal Men Likely Paired More Often with Early Humans

A study published in Science finds Neanderthal males interbred with human females more often than the reverse, suggesting a non-random partner pattern possibly driven by migration or social dynamics; researchers also note that hybrids from Neanderthal mothers and human fathers may have had lower survival, helping explain the persistence of Neanderthal DNA (up to about 2%) in modern European and Asian populations.

via Yahoo News UK|
#early-humans#interbreeding#mating-patterns
Wolf's Last Meal Unlocks Woolly Rhino Genome, Tracing Rapid Ice-Age Extinction
science7 months ago

Wolf's Last Meal Unlocks Woolly Rhino Genome, Tracing Rapid Ice-Age Extinction

Scientists sequenced a full woolly rhino genome from the stomach of a 14,400-year-old wolf pup, revealing a genetically healthy population with low inbreeding before a rapid extinction likely caused by late Ice Age warming; comparison with an older rhino genome suggests the end came quickly after climate change, offering insights for modern biodiversity crises.

via Ars Technica|
#extinction#paleogenomics#permafrost
Unraveling the Genetic Legacy of Bantu-speaking Peoples in Africa
science-and-technology2 years ago

Unraveling the Genetic Legacy of Bantu-speaking Peoples in Africa

A comprehensive genomic study of Bantu-speaking populations (BSP) in sub-Saharan Africa reveals the genetic legacy of their expansion across the continent. The study confirms the demic nature of the BSP expansion and identifies complex patterns of genetic admixture with local populations. The research suggests that the expansion of BSP started from west-central Africa and followed primarily longitudinal routes, with the Congo rainforest playing a crucial role. The study also highlights the importance of Zambia and the western Democratic Republic of Congo as interaction zones between different linguistic subgroupings of BSP. The findings provide insights into the demographic history and genetic diversity of BSP, shedding light on the complex interplay between genetics, linguistics, and geography in African human history.

via Nature.com|
#african-expansion#bantu-speaking-populations#demographic-history