Most genetic changes in humans occurred in past 5000 years, finds new study
NEW DELHI: In the past 5000 years, the human genome - the genetic code
carried in our DNA - has accumulated a large number of variations, many
of them potentially harmful. This has happened because of exploding
human population, which causes naturally arising genetic mutations
(changes) to keep collecting and getting passed on to progeny.
A study published today in the scientific journal Naturehas detailed when many of those rare variants arose. The study had a fairly large sample of 4,298 North Americans of European descent and 2,217 African Americans which enabled the researchers to gather unprecedented details from the genetic code. Study co-author Josh Akey, a genomics expert at the University of Washington in Seattle told Nature that the researchers now have "a way to look at recent human history in a way that we couldn't before."
A study published today in the scientific journal Naturehas detailed when many of those rare variants arose. The study had a fairly large sample of 4,298 North Americans of European descent and 2,217 African Americans which enabled the researchers to gather unprecedented details from the genetic code. Study co-author Josh Akey, a genomics expert at the University of Washington in Seattle told Nature that the researchers now have "a way to look at recent human history in a way that we couldn't before."
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