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Related Concept Videos

Synteny and Evolution02:31

Synteny and Evolution

John H. Renwick first coined the term “synteny” in 1971, which refers to the genes present on the same chromosomes, even if they are not genetically linked. The species with common ancestry tend to show conserved syntenic regions. Therefore, the concept of synteny is nowadays used to describe the evolutionary relationship between species.
Around 80 million years ago, the human and mice lineages diverged from the common ancestor. During the course of evolution, the ancestral chromosome underwent...
Evolution of New Traits in Microbes01:24

Evolution of New Traits in Microbes

Microorganisms evolve rapidly due to their large population sizes and short generation times, often exhibiting measurable changes within days under laboratory conditions. Natural selection acts on standing genetic variation, enabling the retention and amplification of beneficial traits that confer fitness advantages in changing environments.Adaptive Pigment Regulation in RhodobacterIn Rhodobacter, a genus of purple non-sulfur bacteria, light-harvesting pigments such as bacteriochlorophyll and...
Gene Duplication and Divergence02:37

Gene Duplication and Divergence

The seminal work of Ohno in 1970 popularized the idea of gene duplication and divergence. DNA sequence comparison studies reveal that a large portion of the genes in bacteria, archaebacteria, and eukaryotes was  generated by gene duplication and divergence, indicating its critical role in evolution.
The duplicated copies of the gene are called Paralogs. Paralogs with similar sequences and functions form a gene family. Across several species, a large number of gene families are characterized.
Evolutionary Psychology01:20

Evolutionary Psychology

Evolutionary psychology explores the origins of human behavior and mental processes by framing them within the context of natural selection, a theory famously propounded by Charles Darwin. This field asserts that many behaviors common across human societies — ranging from instinctive fear reactions to complex social interactions — arose as evolutionary adaptations. These adaptations enhanced the survival and reproductive success of our ancestors, thereby becoming embedded in the human psyche...
Polygenic Traits01:18

Polygenic Traits

When more than one gene is responsible for a given phenotype, the trait is considered polygenic. Human height is a polygenic trait. Studies have uncovered hundreds of loci that influence height, and there are believed to be many more. Due to the high number of genes involved, as well as environmental and nutritional factors, height varies significantly within a given population. The distribution of height forms a bell-shaped curve, with relatively few individuals in the population at the...
The Evidence for Evolution02:55

The Evidence for Evolution

Genetic variations accumulating within populations over generations give rise to biological evolution. Evolutionary changes can result in the formation of novel varieties and entire new species. These changes are responsible for the diverse forms of life inhabiting the planet. The evidence for evolution suggests that all living organisms descended from common ancestors.The collection of fossils within sedimentary rocks give a record of common ancestry and often depicts the history of evolution.

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Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jun 25, 2026

Genotyping Single Nucleotide Polymorphisms in the Mitochondrial Genome by Pyrosequencing
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Genotyping Single Nucleotide Polymorphisms in the Mitochondrial Genome by Pyrosequencing

Published on: February 10, 2023

Evolution of the human pygmy phenotype.

George H Perry1, Nathaniel J Dominy

  • 1Department of Human Genetics, University of Chicago, 920 E. 58th Street, Chicago, IL 60637, USA. gperry@uchicago.edu

Trends in Ecology & Evolution
|February 28, 2009
PubMed
Summary

The human pygmy phenotype evolved convergently in tropical rainforests. This small body size may be an adaptation to environmental challenges or a life-history strategy for early reproduction amid high mortality.

Area of Science:

  • Human evolutionary biology
  • Anthropology
  • Paleoanthropology

Background:

  • Small human body size, or the pygmy phenotype, is observed in diverse global populations.
  • This phenotype shows convergent evolution and association with tropical rainforest environments.
  • Existing hypotheses suggest adaptations to food limitation, climate, and dense vegetation.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To synthesize and evaluate adaptive hypotheses for the human pygmy phenotype.
  • To explore the role of life-history strategies in the evolution of small body size.
  • To connect findings on human pygmy populations to interpretations of hominin fossil diversity.

Main Methods:

  • Review and synthesis of existing research on human pygmy populations.
  • Analysis of adaptive hypotheses, including environmental and life-history models.

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Experimental Manipulation of Body Size to Estimate Morphological Scaling Relationships in Drosophila

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  • Consideration of convergent evolution and its drivers.

    • Main Results:

    • The pygmy phenotype likely results from multiple, non-exclusive adaptive pressures.
    • A life-history model suggests early growth cessation for earlier reproduction in high-mortality environments.
    • These factors may have co-evolved and influenced human evolution.

    Conclusions:

    • Adaptive scenarios for the pygmy phenotype are not mutually exclusive and require integrated evaluation.
    • Understanding the pygmy phenotype offers insights into human adaptation and diversity.
    • This research informs interpretations of fossil hominins, such as Homo floresiensis.