Xuhua Xia
- Published in print:
- 2012
- Published Online:
- December 2013
- ISBN:
- 9780199642274
- eISBN:
- 9780191774751
- Item type:
- chapter
- Publisher:
- Oxford University Press
- DOI:
- 10.1093/acprof:oso/9780199642274.003.0008
- Subject:
- Biology, Evolutionary Biology / Genetics
Three factors contribute to the rapid evolutionary rate and rate heterogeneity in animal mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA). First, different mtDNA lineages feature different DNA replication mechanisms with ...
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Three factors contribute to the rapid evolutionary rate and rate heterogeneity in animal mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA). First, different mtDNA lineages feature different DNA replication mechanisms with different mutation spectra. Slow-evolving mtDNAs in Cnidaria and Porifera exhibit strand asymmetric patterns consistent with those of single-origin DNA replication in eubacteria, whereas fast-evolving mtDNAs in other metazoan lineages exhibit distinct strand asymmetric patterns consistent with the error-prone strand displacement replication. The strand asymmetry in mutation spectrum, coupled with strand switching of genes, contributes significantly to the rapid evolution of animal mtDNA. Second, different metazoan mtDNAs have evolved at least seven genetic codes resulting in diverging selection on codon usage. Third, metazoan mitochondrial tRNA pools are relatively autonomous, with tRNAs encoded by mtDNA, in contrast to plant mitochondrial tRNA pools. A gain or loss of a tRNA gene in metazoan mtDNA often leads to readily detectable substitutions leading to new codon adaptation.Less
Three factors contribute to the rapid evolutionary rate and rate heterogeneity in animal mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA). First, different mtDNA lineages feature different DNA replication mechanisms with different mutation spectra. Slow-evolving mtDNAs in Cnidaria and Porifera exhibit strand asymmetric patterns consistent with those of single-origin DNA replication in eubacteria, whereas fast-evolving mtDNAs in other metazoan lineages exhibit distinct strand asymmetric patterns consistent with the error-prone strand displacement replication. The strand asymmetry in mutation spectrum, coupled with strand switching of genes, contributes significantly to the rapid evolution of animal mtDNA. Second, different metazoan mtDNAs have evolved at least seven genetic codes resulting in diverging selection on codon usage. Third, metazoan mitochondrial tRNA pools are relatively autonomous, with tRNAs encoded by mtDNA, in contrast to plant mitochondrial tRNA pools. A gain or loss of a tRNA gene in metazoan mtDNA often leads to readily detectable substitutions leading to new codon adaptation.
Rebecca L. Cann
- Published in print:
- 1996
- Published Online:
- March 2012
- ISBN:
- 9780198523901
- eISBN:
- 9780191689048
- Item type:
- chapter
- Publisher:
- Oxford University Press
- DOI:
- 10.1093/acprof:oso/9780198523901.003.0008
- Subject:
- Psychology, Cognitive Psychology
Mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) studies of modern human populations have made unique contributions to the understanding of human evolution due to two important features of this gene: their lack of ...
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Mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) studies of modern human populations have made unique contributions to the understanding of human evolution due to two important features of this gene: their lack of recombination and their rate of mutation. This chapter first examines how rapid evolution and maternal transmission affect phylogenic reconstruction. A human female passes on her mitochondrial genes whereas a human male does not. Since females are almost always sure of maternity, mtDNA is preferred for tracing genealogies in many populations with different cultural norms for mate choice and long-term pair bonds. Mitochondrial DNA is a very sensitive indicator of population history. This chapter presents two reasons that reduce mitochondrial variability compared to other species: genetic bottle-necks and lineage sorting. The human mtDNA tree is also presented. The study has encountered several criticisms in the past. However, these criticisms are answered in this chapter.Less
Mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) studies of modern human populations have made unique contributions to the understanding of human evolution due to two important features of this gene: their lack of recombination and their rate of mutation. This chapter first examines how rapid evolution and maternal transmission affect phylogenic reconstruction. A human female passes on her mitochondrial genes whereas a human male does not. Since females are almost always sure of maternity, mtDNA is preferred for tracing genealogies in many populations with different cultural norms for mate choice and long-term pair bonds. Mitochondrial DNA is a very sensitive indicator of population history. This chapter presents two reasons that reduce mitochondrial variability compared to other species: genetic bottle-necks and lineage sorting. The human mtDNA tree is also presented. The study has encountered several criticisms in the past. However, these criticisms are answered in this chapter.
Tiffiny A. Tung
- Published in print:
- 2012
- Published Online:
- May 2012
- ISBN:
- 9780813037677
- eISBN:
- 9780813042183
- Item type:
- chapter
- Publisher:
- University Press of Florida
- DOI:
- 10.5744/florida/9780813037677.003.0004
- Subject:
- Archaeology, Prehistoric Archaeology
This chapter presents the age-at-death and sex distributions at all three sites, and the strontium isotope and ancient mtDNA data from Conchopata. Those demographic data are used to reconstruct the ...
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This chapter presents the age-at-death and sex distributions at all three sites, and the strontium isotope and ancient mtDNA data from Conchopata. Those demographic data are used to reconstruct the forms of community organization at each site and how they differ. At Conchopata, there are significantly more females than males, and the author suggests that this may be because men died while away on military campaigns, never to return to their home community to receive proper burial. The Beringa demographic profile appears to represent the once-living community and indicates that it was a village community with extended family groups. The La Real demographic profile is not representative of a once-living community; there are few infants and children, and significantly more men than women, which likely reflects a burial program whereby adult men were preferentially selected for burial there.Less
This chapter presents the age-at-death and sex distributions at all three sites, and the strontium isotope and ancient mtDNA data from Conchopata. Those demographic data are used to reconstruct the forms of community organization at each site and how they differ. At Conchopata, there are significantly more females than males, and the author suggests that this may be because men died while away on military campaigns, never to return to their home community to receive proper burial. The Beringa demographic profile appears to represent the once-living community and indicates that it was a village community with extended family groups. The La Real demographic profile is not representative of a once-living community; there are few infants and children, and significantly more men than women, which likely reflects a burial program whereby adult men were preferentially selected for burial there.
Marie Elaine Danforth, Danielle N. Cook, J. Lynn Funkhouser, Barbara T. Hester, and Heather Guzik
- Published in print:
- 2017
- Published Online:
- September 2017
- ISBN:
- 9780813060750
- eISBN:
- 9780813051918
- Item type:
- chapter
- Publisher:
- University Press of Florida
- DOI:
- 10.5744/florida/9780813060750.003.0011
- Subject:
- Archaeology, Historical Archaeology
Danforth and colleagues report on demography, diet, mitochondrial DNA, and biological stress in remains from Moran, Mississippi, part of New Biloxi, a French colonial settlement. This study is ...
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Danforth and colleagues report on demography, diet, mitochondrial DNA, and biological stress in remains from Moran, Mississippi, part of New Biloxi, a French colonial settlement. This study is unique, since at the time of this writing, skeletal remains were identified at only six French sites in the U.S. These authors test whether the historically documented policies implemented under “Code Noir” were actually practiced and enforced at the settlement, segregating the European settlers, enslaved Africans and their descendants, and Native Americans. The authors were surprised by the high number of young males of European ancestry they encountered. Stable isotope data indicated that their diets were dominated by C3 based plants and only one had C4 based diet. Although the human remains were small and few possessed high levels of enamel defects, Danforth and colleagues found low levels of physiological stress. They conclude that either the burials from Moran were not part of New Biloxi and did not suffer to the degree the settlers of New Biloxi suffered or there was strict enforcement of segregation, with the remains of other groups interred elsewhere, and the conditions were not as poor for the Moran group as historical documents about New Biloxi say.Less
Danforth and colleagues report on demography, diet, mitochondrial DNA, and biological stress in remains from Moran, Mississippi, part of New Biloxi, a French colonial settlement. This study is unique, since at the time of this writing, skeletal remains were identified at only six French sites in the U.S. These authors test whether the historically documented policies implemented under “Code Noir” were actually practiced and enforced at the settlement, segregating the European settlers, enslaved Africans and their descendants, and Native Americans. The authors were surprised by the high number of young males of European ancestry they encountered. Stable isotope data indicated that their diets were dominated by C3 based plants and only one had C4 based diet. Although the human remains were small and few possessed high levels of enamel defects, Danforth and colleagues found low levels of physiological stress. They conclude that either the burials from Moran were not part of New Biloxi and did not suffer to the degree the settlers of New Biloxi suffered or there was strict enforcement of segregation, with the remains of other groups interred elsewhere, and the conditions were not as poor for the Moran group as historical documents about New Biloxi say.
Marianne Sommer
- Published in print:
- 2016
- Published Online:
- January 2017
- ISBN:
- 9780226347325
- eISBN:
- 9780226349879
- Item type:
- chapter
- Publisher:
- University of Chicago Press
- DOI:
- 10.7208/chicago/9780226349879.003.0012
- Subject:
- History, History of Science, Technology, and Medicine
This chapter deals with Cavalli-Sforza’s early work in the development of statistical and computer techniques to create human population trees on the basis of the genetics of blood groups. The ...
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This chapter deals with Cavalli-Sforza’s early work in the development of statistical and computer techniques to create human population trees on the basis of the genetics of blood groups. The history within was now conceived to reside in the gene. At the same time, also Cavalli-Sforza synthesized knowledge from other fields such as archaeology, linguistics, and history with the genetic data to arrive at encompassing pictures of modern human population migrations. This also generated controversy, especially with exponents of cultural anthropology. Cavalli-Sforza’s team at Stanford University was a center of human population genetic research and pioneered the development of DNA analysis for the establishment of genetic kinship trees. mtDNA and Y-chromosomal markers became the most important objects for the reconstruction of modern human evolution. On the basis of that knowledge and the out-of-Africa hypothesis, diverse branches of the human origins sciences became integrated and the new view of human evolution was popularized.Less
This chapter deals with Cavalli-Sforza’s early work in the development of statistical and computer techniques to create human population trees on the basis of the genetics of blood groups. The history within was now conceived to reside in the gene. At the same time, also Cavalli-Sforza synthesized knowledge from other fields such as archaeology, linguistics, and history with the genetic data to arrive at encompassing pictures of modern human population migrations. This also generated controversy, especially with exponents of cultural anthropology. Cavalli-Sforza’s team at Stanford University was a center of human population genetic research and pioneered the development of DNA analysis for the establishment of genetic kinship trees. mtDNA and Y-chromosomal markers became the most important objects for the reconstruction of modern human evolution. On the basis of that knowledge and the out-of-Africa hypothesis, diverse branches of the human origins sciences became integrated and the new view of human evolution was popularized.
Robert J. Hommon
- Published in print:
- 2013
- Published Online:
- May 2013
- ISBN:
- 9780199916122
- eISBN:
- 9780199332823
- Item type:
- chapter
- Publisher:
- Oxford University Press
- DOI:
- 10.1093/acprof:oso/9780199916122.003.0011
- Subject:
- Classical Studies, Archaeology: Classical, World History: BCE to 500CE
Voyagers from the Marquesas Islands were among the first to settle Hawai`i, as evidenced by similarities in the languages of the two archipelagos and the early presence in Hawai`i of Polynesian rats ...
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Voyagers from the Marquesas Islands were among the first to settle Hawai`i, as evidenced by similarities in the languages of the two archipelagos and the early presence in Hawai`i of Polynesian rats (Rattus exulans) shown by mtDNA analysis to be associated with the Marquesas. This chapter reviews two Marquesan tribal groups. One, the society after which Hawaiian state emergence conjectural stage 3 is modeled, is the single-community tribe of Taiohae valley on the south coast of Nuku Hiva. The single symbolic chief (haka`iki) resembles a Tikopia chief. Unlike Tikopia, this tribe is constantly interacting with other tribes. The other example is `Ua Pou, the only Marquesan case of an entire multicommunity island united, like a small Hawaiian district, under of a single leader, and the basis for conjectural stage 4. The term “community center” refers to a remarkably large and massively constructed Marquesan architectural complex.Less
Voyagers from the Marquesas Islands were among the first to settle Hawai`i, as evidenced by similarities in the languages of the two archipelagos and the early presence in Hawai`i of Polynesian rats (Rattus exulans) shown by mtDNA analysis to be associated with the Marquesas. This chapter reviews two Marquesan tribal groups. One, the society after which Hawaiian state emergence conjectural stage 3 is modeled, is the single-community tribe of Taiohae valley on the south coast of Nuku Hiva. The single symbolic chief (haka`iki) resembles a Tikopia chief. Unlike Tikopia, this tribe is constantly interacting with other tribes. The other example is `Ua Pou, the only Marquesan case of an entire multicommunity island united, like a small Hawaiian district, under of a single leader, and the basis for conjectural stage 4. The term “community center” refers to a remarkably large and massively constructed Marquesan architectural complex.
Francisco J. Ayala and Camilo J. Cela-Conde
- Published in print:
- 2017
- Published Online:
- May 2017
- ISBN:
- 9780198739906
- eISBN:
- 9780191802836
- Item type:
- chapter
- Publisher:
- Oxford University Press
- DOI:
- 10.1093/oso/9780198739906.003.0011
- Subject:
- Biology, Evolutionary Biology / Genetics
This chapter deals with the similarities and differences between Homo neanderthalensis and Homo sapiens, by considering genetic, brain, and cognitive evidence. The genetic differentiation emerges ...
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This chapter deals with the similarities and differences between Homo neanderthalensis and Homo sapiens, by considering genetic, brain, and cognitive evidence. The genetic differentiation emerges from fossil genetic evidence obtained first from mtDNA and later from nuclear DNA. With high throughput whole genome sequencing, sequences have been obtained from the Denisova Cave (Siberia) fossils. Nuclear DNA of a third species (“Denisovans”) has been obtained from the same cave and used to define the phylogenetic relationships among the three species during the Upper Palaeolithic. Archaeological comparisons make it possible to advance a four-mode model of the evolution of symbolism. Neanderthals and modern humans would share a “modern mind” as defined up to Symbolic Mode 3. Whether the Neanderthals reached symbolic Mode 4 remains unsettled.Less
This chapter deals with the similarities and differences between Homo neanderthalensis and Homo sapiens, by considering genetic, brain, and cognitive evidence. The genetic differentiation emerges from fossil genetic evidence obtained first from mtDNA and later from nuclear DNA. With high throughput whole genome sequencing, sequences have been obtained from the Denisova Cave (Siberia) fossils. Nuclear DNA of a third species (“Denisovans”) has been obtained from the same cave and used to define the phylogenetic relationships among the three species during the Upper Palaeolithic. Archaeological comparisons make it possible to advance a four-mode model of the evolution of symbolism. Neanderthals and modern humans would share a “modern mind” as defined up to Symbolic Mode 3. Whether the Neanderthals reached symbolic Mode 4 remains unsettled.
Milena Salgado Lynn, Pierfrancesco Sechi, Lounès Chikhi, and Benoit Goossens
- Published in print:
- 2016
- Published Online:
- August 2016
- ISBN:
- 9780198703389
- eISBN:
- 9780191824067
- Item type:
- chapter
- Publisher:
- Oxford University Press
- DOI:
- 10.1093/acprof:oso/9780198703389.003.0005
- Subject:
- Biology, Biodiversity / Conservation Biology
Conservation genetics is a relatively young interdisciplinary field. Essentially, it concerns the application of genetic methods to threatened species. It aims to obtain detailed insights about their ...
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Conservation genetics is a relatively young interdisciplinary field. Essentially, it concerns the application of genetic methods to threatened species. It aims to obtain detailed insights about their evolution, ecology, taxonomy, and population genetics and to inform conservation strategies. This chapter discusses the application of the most commonly used molecular techniques to the conservation of primates, with a focus on non-invasive samples. Recent technological advances in sequencing techniques are allowing the transition from classical population genetic studies, based on few markers, to studies based on whole-genome information. The main techniques and concepts are broadly explored and practical examples are given together with pointers to recent studies and reviews. The aim is to give the reader a general understanding of what the field of conservation genetics is, how it can be applied to primate research and conservation, and how it will likely change in the future.Less
Conservation genetics is a relatively young interdisciplinary field. Essentially, it concerns the application of genetic methods to threatened species. It aims to obtain detailed insights about their evolution, ecology, taxonomy, and population genetics and to inform conservation strategies. This chapter discusses the application of the most commonly used molecular techniques to the conservation of primates, with a focus on non-invasive samples. Recent technological advances in sequencing techniques are allowing the transition from classical population genetic studies, based on few markers, to studies based on whole-genome information. The main techniques and concepts are broadly explored and practical examples are given together with pointers to recent studies and reviews. The aim is to give the reader a general understanding of what the field of conservation genetics is, how it can be applied to primate research and conservation, and how it will likely change in the future.
