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Updated: Jun 19, 2026
04:52
Following the Dynamics of Structural Variants in Experimentally Evolved Populations
Published on: February 3, 2023
Colloquium papers: Natural selection in a contemporary human population.
Sean G Byars1, Douglas Ewbank, Diddahally R Govindaraju
1Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, Yale University, New Haven, CT 06520-8102, USA.
Summary
Natural selection is driving gradual human evolution, influencing traits like height, cholesterol, and reproductive timing. This study predicts future evolutionary changes in contemporary populations.
Area of Science:
- Evolutionary biology
- Human genetics
- Population studies
Background:
- Understanding contemporary human evolution is crucial for predicting future health trends.
- The Framingham Heart Study provides a unique, long-term dataset for evolutionary analysis.
Purpose of the Study:
- To demonstrate ongoing natural selection in contemporary humans.
- To predict evolutionary changes in medically significant traits.
- To assess the feasibility of short-term evolutionary predictions.
Main Methods:
- Quantified the strength of natural selection.
- Estimated genetic variation and covariation.
- Predicted the response to selection using Framingham Heart Study data.
Main Results:
- Natural selection is causing slow, gradual evolutionary change.
- Predicted changes include shorter, stouter body types.
- Lower cholesterol, blood pressure, earlier first child, later menopause are anticipated.
Conclusions:
- Evolutionary biologists should be involved in designing long-term studies.
- Short-term evolutionary predictions are possible for certain human traits.
- Ongoing natural selection will subtly alter human physiology and life history.
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