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

Access to Document

10.1007/s12052-010-0262-9

Fingerprint Dive into the research topics of 'Anthropological Genetics: Inferring the History of Our Species Through the Analysis of DNA'. Together they form a unique fingerprint.

Cite this

@article{e1ddc0bc9af34d298bf3c49f58d41bf5,

title = "Anthropological Genetics: Inferring the History of Our Species Through the Analysis of DNA",

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.",

keywords = "Ancient DNA, Anthropological genetics, Human origins, Molecular clock, Phylogeny",

author = "Hodgson, {Jason A.} and Disotell, {Todd R.}",

year = "2010",

month = aug,

day = "19",

doi = "10.1007/s12052-010-0262-9",

language = "English (US)",

volume = "3",

pages = "387--398",

journal = "Evolution: Education and Outreach",

issn = "1936-6426",

publisher = "BioMed Central Ltd.",

number = "3",

}

TY - JOUR

T1 - Anthropological Genetics

T2 - Inferring the History of Our Species Through the Analysis of DNA

AU - Hodgson, Jason A.

AU - Disotell, Todd R.

PY - 2010/8/19

Y1 - 2010/8/19

N2 - 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.

AB - 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.

KW - Ancient DNA

KW - Anthropological genetics

KW - Human origins

KW - Molecular clock

KW - Phylogeny

UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85067116882&partnerID=8YFLogxK

UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/citedby.url?scp=85067116882&partnerID=8YFLogxK

U2 - 10.1007/s12052-010-0262-9

DO - 10.1007/s12052-010-0262-9

M3 - Article

AN - SCOPUS:85067116882

VL - 3

SP - 387

EP - 398

JO - Evolution: Education and Outreach

JF - Evolution: Education and Outreach

SN - 1936-6426

IS - 3

ER -

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

Abstract

Keywords

ASJC Scopus subject areas

Access to Document

Other files and links

Cite this