A new study from Europe has identified 755 traits that have changed in the past 2-3,000 years of human evolution. These traits are linked with things like pigmentation, nutritional intake, and several common diseases or disorders.
We sometimes tend to think of humans as the pinnacle of evolution, the tip of the biological pyramid. Not only does that show just how self-centered we humans can be, but it’s not really correct either. Even if it were to be the case, it’s not like evolution has stopped — it’s happening right as you’re reading this.
Natural selection (the process through which individuals better adapted to an environment are more likely to reproduce) isn’t just happening in the animal world, it’s happening for humans too.
Understanding the patterns behind our past and present evolution isn’t just a scientific curiosity, it could have important applications in the field of medicine and human biology.
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“The genetic architecture of present-day humans is shaped by selection pressures in our history. Understanding the patterns of natural selection in humans can provide valuable insights into the mechanisms of biological processes, the origin of human psychological characteristics and key anthropological events,” the researchers write in the new study.
