Toward a new history and geography of human genes informed by ancient DNA.

ABSTRACT: Genetic information contains a record of the history of our species, and technological advances have transformed our ability to access this record. Many studies have used genome-wide data from populations today to learn about the peopling of the globe and subsequent adaptation to local conditions. Implicit in this research is the assumption that the geographic locations of people today are informative about the geographic locations of their ancestors in the distant past. However, it is now clear that long-range migration, admixture, and population replacement subsequent to the initial out-of-Africa expansion have altered the genetic structure of most of the world's human populations. In light of this we argue that it is time to critically reevaluate current models of the peopling of the gl

SUBMITTER: Pickrell JK 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC4163019 | biostudies-literature | 2014 Sep

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature