The European genome has been altered by natural selection over the past 3,000 years

Natural selection shapes all life on Earth. Organisms with the ability to adapt have a higher likelihood of successful reproduction in changing environments. Humans, like other species, exhibit some instances of recent evolution, but there is still much to learn about how natural selection is influencing the human genome.

This study represents a modest advancement in our comprehension of human evolution. The study’s researchers sought to comprehend the evolution of complex traits through natural selection. An analysis of 870 human traits influenced by multiple genes revealed that 755 of them underwent changes as a result of natural selection within the past 2,000 to 3,000 years.

Weichen Song from the Shanghai Jiao Tong University led the team. The researchers utilized contemporary human genetic data from the UK Biobank and Psychiatric Genomics Consortium. They analyzed the data alongside ancient genomic DNA from Europe and the Near-East, offering insights into the evolution of the human genome over the past 45,000 years.

One notable discovery by the team was that skin pigmentation, body measurement, and dietary traits experienced significant selection pressure over the time scales studied. Factors influencing skin color include minimizing UV damage, meeting vitamin D needs, and regulating body temperature. One of the earliest Britons, the Cheddar Man, actually had dark skin.

Genetic factors, along with external pressures like ecology, climate, and migration, have influenced changes in body measurement and dietary traits.

It was discovered by the team that some diseases have not been eradicated as effectively as anticipated. Genetic factors linked to anorexia nervosa and inflammatory bowel disease were being suppressed, yet cases continued to occur.

The team views the findings as intriguing but considers them to be an initial foundational step required for more detailed research. The study’s scope is restricted due to the utilization of genomes from the UK, primarily consisting of individuals of European descent. The use of ancient genomes limited the study.

The study is constrained by the methodology of genome-wide association studies that do not differentiate between association and causality.

The Human Genome Project concluded in 2003, meaning a comprehensive examination of the human genome is less than 20 years old. Numerous mysteries still await discovery regarding its evolution.

The research has been published in the journal Nature Human Behavior.