Cultural change and its relevance for human genetics

The first part of this paper summarizes conclusions drawn from theoretical analysis of cultural change, as appeared in various papers (published and unpublished) by the author in collaboration with Marc Feldman. Among conclusions emphasized are the tendency to homogeneity of cultural traits with most mechanisms of cultural transmissions, the great variation in rates of change and conditions determining them, and the major factors responsible for change. The possibility of genetic variation in learning ability adds considerable complications and determines joint biological and cultural evolution. In the second part of the paper, one very specific example of biological and cultural coevolution is outlined. Archaeological information shows that agriculture spread slowly from a Near East area of origin of domestication of plants and animals. The spread towards Europe is particularly well mapped. There are good reasons why the spread of agriculture may have been accompanied by a spread of farmers from the area of origin. It turns out that synthetic gene maps of Europe showing such a spread of farmers would be an excellent explanation for the geographic distribution of genes in Europe.