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Population bottlenecks and Pleistocene human evolution.

J Hawks1, K Hunley, S H Lee

  • 1Department of Anthropology, University of Utah, USA.

Molecular Biology and Evolution
|February 10, 2000
PubMed
Summary

Genetic and anthropological data refute a recent human population bottleneck. While early human population size changes are debated, recent bottlenecks are not supported by current evidence.

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Area of Science:

  • Human Evolution
  • Population Genetics
  • Archaeology

Background:

  • Understanding past human population size dynamics is crucial for evolutionary studies.
  • Previous research has explored population bottlenecks and expansions using genetic and archaeological data.
  • Inbreeding effective population size offers an alternative perspective on past population dynamics.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To review anatomical and archaeological evidence for early human population bottlenecks.
  • To examine demographic changes and genetic data reflecting population size fluctuations.
  • To assess the validity of inbreeding effective population size as a measure of past human populations.

Main Methods:

  • Review of anatomical and archaeological evidence.
  • Analysis of genetic systems (nonrecombining, recombining, microsatellites, Alu elements).
  • Comparison of genetic data with archaeological findings and population models.

Main Results:

  • Genetic data show constraints on population size bottlenecks, with some autosomal loci incompatible with Pleistocene expansions.
  • Microsatellite data present conflicting evidence for Pleistocene expansions.
  • Archaeological data align with specific genetic analyses (e.g., Alu elements), questioning the reliability of inbreeding effective population size.
  • Genetic and anthropological data are incompatible with a recent population size bottleneck.

Conclusions:

  • Current genetic data cannot disprove a simple exponential growth model post-bottleneck 2 MYA.
  • Archaeological and paleontological data suggest this model is oversimplified.
  • Genetic data lack resolution for detailed Pleistocene population changes.
  • Evidence strongly refutes a recent human population size bottleneck.

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