Genetic Evidence for the Convergent Evolution of Light Skin in Europeans and East Asians | Zendy

Heather L. Norton | Zendy; Rick A. Kittles | Zendy; Esteban J. Parra | Zendy; Paul McKeigue | Zendy; Xianyun Mao | Zendy; Keith C. Cheng | Zendy; Victor A. Canfield | Zendy; Daniel G. Bradley | Zendy; Brian McEvoy | Zendy; Mark D. Shriver | Zendy

AI Assistant Blog Pricing

Home ZAIA Blog

Open Access

Genetic Evidence for the Convergent Evolution of Light Skin in Europeans and East Asians

Author(s) -

Heather L. Norton,

Rick A. Kittles,

Esteban J. Parra,

Paul McKeigue,

Xianyun Mao,

Keith C. Cheng,

Victor A. Canfield,

Daniel G. Bradley,

Brian McEvoy,

Mark D. Shriver

Publication year - 2006

Publication title -

molecular biology and evolution

Language(s) - English

Resource type - Journals

SCImago Journal Rank - 6.637

H-Index - 218

eISSN - 1537-1719

pISSN - 0737-4038

DOI - 10.1093/molbev/msl203

Subject(s) - biology , international hapmap project , evolutionary biology , convergent evolution , positive selection , natural selection , phenotype , genetics , human genetic variation , genetic variation , human evolution , gene , selection (genetic algorithm) , allele , phylogenetics , human genome , genome , haplotype , artificial intelligence , computer science

Human skin pigmentation shows a strong positive correlation with ultraviolet radiation intensity, suggesting that variation in skin color is, at least partially, due to adaptation via natural selection. We investigated the evolution of pigmentation variation by testing for the presence of positive directional selection in 6 pigmentation genes using an empirical F(ST) approach, through an examination of global diversity patterns of these genes in the Centre d'Etude du Polymorphisme Humain (CEPH)-Diversity Panel, and by exploring signatures of selection in data from the International HapMap project. Additionally, we demonstrated a role for MATP in determining normal skin pigmentation variation using admixture mapping methods. Taken together (with the results of previous admixture mapping studies), these results point to the importance of several genes in shaping the pigmentation phenotype and a complex evolutionary history involving strong selection. Polymorphisms in 2 genes, ASIP and OCA2, may play a shared role in shaping light and dark pigmentation across the globe, whereas SLC24A5, MATP, and TYR have a predominant role in the evolution of light skin in Europeans but not in East Asians. These findings support a case for the recent convergent evolution of a lighter pigmentation phenotype in Europeans and East Asians.

The content you want is available to Zendy users.

Already have an account? Click here to sign in.

Having issues? You can contact us here

Accelerating Research