Evolution Diary

A massive new study of human genetic diversity reveals surprising insights into our species’ evolution and migrations—including support for the theory that the first modern humans originated in Africa—scientists said today. (…)

The study, published today in Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, USA, claims to have solved this scientific riddle by analysing the genomics of primitive living fishes such as sharks and lampreys and their spineless relatives, such as the sea squirts. (…)

New research shows that people with blue eyes have a single, common ancestor. (…)

Gene variants may help to distribute the work of evolution between men and women
Reykjavik, ICELAND, January 31, 2008 – Scientists from deCODE genetics (Nasdaq:DCGN) today report the discovery of two common, single-letter variants in the sequence of the human genome (SNPs) that regulate one of the principle motors of evolution. (…)

The ancestors of today’s Polynesians and Micronesians were probably East Asians who quickly island-hopped through Near Oceania—what is now Australia, New Guinea, and the Solomon Islands—a new genetic study suggests. (…)