Year: 2018
Type: review
Abstract: The first decade of ancient genomics has revolutionized the study of human prehistory and evolution. We review new insights based on prehistoric modern human genomes, including greatly increased resolution of the timing and structure of the out-of-Africa expansion, the diversification of present-day non-African populations, and the earliest expansions of those populations into Eurasia and America. Prehistoric genomes now document population transformations on every inhabited continent-in particular the effect of agricultural expansions in Africa, Europe, and Oceania-and record a history of natural selection that shapes present-day phenotypic diversity. Despite these advances, much remains unknown, in particular about the genomic histories of Asia (the most populous continent) and Africa (the continent that contains the most genetic diversity). Ancient genomes from these and other regions, integrated with a growing understanding of the genomic basis of human phenotypic diversity, will be in focus during the next decade of research in the field.
Authors: Pontus Skoglund, Iain Mathieson
Institutions: The Francis Crick Institute, University of Pennsylvania
Language: English
Subfield: Genetics
Domain: Life Sciences
Open Access status: bronze
Funder: Francis Crick Institute
Award: G2557806223
OpenAlex ID: W2801439153