Not by Selection Alone: Expanding the Scope of Gene-Culture Coevolution

Area of Science:

• Human Evolution
• Genetics
• Anthropology

Background:

• Gene-culture coevolution (GCC) is a framework for understanding human trait evolution.
• Empirical evidence for GCC is often limited to a few examples, such as lactase persistence.
• This perceived gap arises from narrow definitions of gene-culture interactions.

Purpose of the Study:

• To propose a broader framework for gene-culture coevolution.
• To incorporate genetic drift and migration alongside natural selection.
• To demonstrate how cultural factors influence genetic variation and population structure.

Main Methods:

• Reviewing recent work in animal GCC and human genomics.
• Developing a "broad" GCC framework encompassing drift and migration.
• Analyzing case studies on skin pigmentation and Melanesian genetic variation.

Main Results:

• Cultural factors influence both adaptive and neutral genetic variation.
• Cultural influences extend to population structure.
• The broad GCC framework accommodates diverse empirical findings.

Conclusions:

• A broader approach to GCC, including drift and migration, is essential.
• This integrative perspective expands the scope of gene-culture interactions.
• New research avenues in human evolution are opened by this approach.