Ancestry & Evolution
The desire to understand our origins is primal. By examining our DNA over successive generations through the evolutionary process of inherited characteristics of human and animal populations–as well as from those species from which humans share a common ancestry–we can decipher our individual and collective past and develop medical innovations for the future.
Below is the complete archive of related articles sorted by date.
Eurogenes Genetic Ancestry Project: There’s something very North Eurasian about Indo-European
Recently we learned that Europeans, especially North Europeans, are actually very North Eurasian genetically (see here). Then, last week, scientists ...
Twin study finds genetics role in personality disorders
A Norwegian study of twins expands the role of genetics in the development of a personality disorder, yet cautions that ...
Khoe-San people represent earliest branch off human family tree
The Khoe-San people of southern Africa have been recognised as one of the earliest-formed distinct human genetic groups for several ...
Genetic mutation may have allowed early humans to migrate throughout Africa
A genetic mutation that occurred thousands of years ago might be the answer to how early humans were able to ...
How do organisms evolve?
A team of researchers at Michigan State University has documented the step-by-step process in which organisms evolve new functions. The ...
Scientists use genetics, climate reconstructions to track global spread of modern humans out of Africa
Research indicates the out-of-Africa spread of humans was dictated by the appearance of favourable climatic windows. By integrating genetics with ...
Scientists use genetics, climate reconstructions to track global spread of modern humans out of Africa
Research indicates the out-of-Africa spread of humans was dictated by the appearance of favourable climatic windows. By integrating genetics with ...
The Bushmen tell us a lot about human evolution and genetics
When it comes to the human genetics of the Khoe-San there’s a little that’s stale and unoriginal for me in ...
Genomic studies find all humans did not originate in East Africa
The largest study of genetic variance across present-day populations in southern Africa suggests that there is no single place in ...
Geneticists verify cholesterol-cancer link
University of Rochester Medical Center scientists discovered new genetic evidence linking cholesterol and cancer, raising the possibility that cholesterol medications ...
Genes could be powerful predictor of our capacity to deal with stress, study shows
Work stress, job satisfaction and health problems due to high stress have more to do with genes than you might ...
Obesity linked to genes
There has been an alarming rise in the number of obese people in the last few decades and the epidemic ...
Breast cancer linked to genetic changes caused by mother’s eating habits
Mothers who eat fatty foods while pregnant may increase the risk of breast cancer among their daughters and granddaughters ...
Genetic development may protect the Maasai people of Africa
The Maasai are a very special people who live primarily from farming and livestock activities in Kenya and Tanzania. They ...
Home genetic test for alcoholism may carry perils
Being told you have a genetic predisposition to alcoholism could make you feel you have less control over your drinking, ...
Will personalized medicine challenge or reify categories of race and ethnicity?
In the last 5 years, medical geneticists have been conducting studies to examine possible links between DNA and disease on ...
Could internet addiction be genetic?
Not only is Internet addiction a legitimate compulsion, it may have the same genetic component as nicotine addiction, a new ...
Unraveling the human genome: 6 molecular milestones
In a milestone for the understanding of human genetics, scientists just announced the results of five years of work in ...
Will overregulation in Europe stymie synthetic biology?
The promising new field of “synthetic biology” involves the design and construction of new biological components, devices and systems, as ...
Evidence matters in genomic medicine: Cancer genomic tests
In a previous blog, CDC’s Office of Public Health Genomics announced a list of health-related genomic tests and applications, stratified ...
Newborn screening can help prevent problems
Newborn babies are screened, even if they look healthy, because some medical conditions cannot be seen by just looking at ...
Tracing the world’s ancestor: How many generations does it take before someone alive today could be the ancestor of everyone on the planet?
The bloodline between Jesus and King David raises a wider genealogical issue. How many generations does it take before someone ...
Can early menopause be cured? A genetic mouse model may pave the way
Scientists have established a genetic mouse model for primary ovarian insufficiency (POI), a human condition in which women experience irregular ...
Genome of ancient Denisovans may help clarify human evolution
Our ancestors didn't walk alone: Neanderthals and other ancient peoples shared Earth with them tens of thousands of years ago ...
New genetic risk factor for inflammation identified in African American women
African Americans have higher blood levels of a protein associated with increased heart-disease risk than European Americans, despite higher “good” ...
Not all genes are created the same
The map to the right shows the frequencies of HGDP populations on SLC45A2, which is a locus that has been ...
Does the State have your child’s DNA?
The Citizens' Council on Health Care released a report in 2009 that raises concerns about the extension of eugenics into ...
