Anthropological Genetics: Inferring the History of Our Species Through the Analysis of DNA

Jason A. Hodgson; Todd R. Disotell

doi:10.1007/s12052-010-0262-9

Anthropological Genetics: Inferring the History of Our Species Through the Analysis of DNA

Jason A. Hodgson, Todd R. Disotell

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

Abstract

The genetic material, deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA), contains information about the evolutionary history of life. Both the relationships amongst organisms and the times of their divergence can be inferred from DNA sequences. Anthropological geneticists use DNA sequences to infer the evolutionary history of humans and their primate relatives. We review the basic methodology used to infer these relationships. We then review the anthropological genetic evidence for modern human origins. We conclude that modern humans evolved recently in Africa and then left to colonize the rest of the world within the last 50,000 years, largely replacing the other human groups that they encountered. Modern humans likely exchanged genes with Neanderthals prior to or early during their expansion out of Africa.

Original language	English (US)
Pages (from-to)	387-398
Number of pages	12
Journal	Evolution: Education and Outreach
Volume	3
Issue number	3
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1007/s12052-010-0262-9
State	Published - Aug 19 2010

Keywords

Ancient DNA
Anthropological genetics
Human origins
Molecular clock
Phylogeny

ASJC Scopus subject areas

Ecology, Evolution, Behavior and Systematics
Education

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10.1007/s12052-010-0262-9

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