Natural selection has changed 755 European and Middle Eastern human traits over the past 2 to 3 years
He is about to end up run over, his mother saves himLa natural selection has changed 755 European and Middle Eastern human traits in the last 2 - 3 thousand years. The research, led by Shanghai Jiao Tong University (China) has shown how we have really changed a lot. But in an "infinite" time for us.
Particular evolutionary pressure seems to have been there skin pigmentation, body size and nutritional needs. According to the results of the innovative research, in particular, the pressures on skin color are due to the reduction of ultraviolet damage, with repercussions on vitamin D requirements and heat regulation. So the body's measurement and nutritional needs have also been modified by genetic factors, along with external pressures such as climate and migration.
And, in times of pandemics, one result is particularly striking: the team also found that some diseases have not been eliminated as efficiently as would be expected. In fact, even though genetic factors associated with conditions such as anorexia nervosa and inflammatory bowel disease are suppressed, cases persist.
In fact, anything but a scientific curiosity for its own sake.
Characterizing the natural selection of complex traits is important for understanding human evolution and both biological and pathological mechanisms
the authors write
Read also: The human species risks self-extinction: this is the result of our evolution, bringing the planet Earth towards the definitive collapse
The results are interesting and very surprising, but the authors themselves call for calm, considering this study a fundamental but preliminary step, and deeming more detailed work necessary for this. The study is in fact limited by the use of genomes from the UK, which mainly includes people of European descent.
The work is also limited by the methodology of association studies on the whole genome which does not investigate causal links: in other particular, we talk about correlation but there are still no in-depth analyzes on the causes.
The Genome Project ended in 2003, so a full analysis of the human genome is not even 20 years old - many mysteries remain to unravel within it and how it was shaped by evolutionary forces.
But we must start somewhere as well.
The research was published in Nature Human Behavior.
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Fonte: Nature Human Behaviour
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