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Populations, Traits, and Their Spatial Structure in Humans.

Mashaal Sohail1,2, Alan Izarraras-Gomez3, Diego Ortega-Del Vecchyo3

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Genetic and environmental factors shape human complex traits. Understanding evolutionary processes influencing causal alleles is crucial for deciphering trait variation across populations.

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complex traitsgenetic structurepopulationsspatial variation

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Area of Science:

  • Population Genetics
  • Evolutionary Biology
  • Human Genetics

Background:

  • Spatial distribution of genetic variants is shaped by geography, demography, selection, and environment.
  • Causal alleles influence complex traits, with effects potentially varying by environment.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To examine genetic and environmental axes in concert to understand human complex trait variation.
  • To explore how evolutionary processes impact the spatial structure of causal alleles and traits.

Main Methods:

  • Review of historical and current research on genetic variation and complex traits.
  • Integration of evolutionary, demographic, and environmental factors influencing allele frequencies and effect sizes.

Main Results:

  • Complex traits vary along genetic, biogeographical, and sociocultural axes.
  • Evolutionary events like selection, population changes, and admixture alter causal allele characteristics.

Conclusions:

  • Deciphering complex trait variation requires considering the interplay of genetic, environmental, and historical factors.
  • Understanding the evolutionary history of populations and traits is key to interpreting current human variation.