A revised timescale for human evolution based on ancient mitochondrial genomes.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Recent analyses of de novo DNA mutations in modern humans have suggested a nuclear substitution rate that is approximately half that of previous estimates based on fossil calibration. This result has led to suggestions that major events in human evolution occurred far earlier than previously thought.

Results

Here, we use mitochondrial genome sequences from ten securely dated ancient modern humans spanning 40,000 years as calibration points for the mitochondrial clock, thus yielding a direct estimate of the mitochondrial substitution rate. Our clock yields mitochondrial divergence times that are in agreement with earlier estimates based on calibration points derived from either fossils or archaeological material. In particular, our results imply a separation of non

SUBMITTER: Fu Q 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC5036973 | biostudies-literature | 2013 Apr

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature