Comment on "Ongoing adaptive evolution of ASPM, a brain size determinant in Homo sapiens"

Science. 2007 Apr 20;316(5823):370. doi: 10.1126/science.316.5823.370a.

Abstract

Mekel-Bobrov et al. (Reports, 9 September 2005, p. 1720) suggested that ASPM, a gene associated with microcephaly, underwent natural selection within the last 500 to 14,100 years. Their analyses based on comparison with computer simulations indicated that ASPM had an unusual pattern of variation. However, when we compare ASPM empirically to a large number of other loci, its variation is not unusual and does not support selection.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
  • Comment

MeSH terms

  • Adaptation, Biological
  • Asian People / genetics
  • Biological Evolution
  • Black People / genetics
  • Brain / anatomy & histology
  • Gene Frequency
  • Haplotypes
  • Humans
  • Nerve Tissue Proteins / genetics*
  • Polymorphism, Single Nucleotide*
  • Recombination, Genetic
  • Selection, Genetic*
  • Sequence Analysis, DNA
  • Time
  • White People / genetics

Substances

  • ASPM protein, human
  • Nerve Tissue Proteins