scholarly journals Contrasting Signatures of Population Growth for Mitochondrial DNA and Y Chromosomes among Human Populations in Africa

2007 ◽  
Vol 25 (3) ◽  
pp. 517-525 ◽  
Author(s):  
Maya Metni Pilkington ◽  
Jason A. Wilder ◽  
Fernando L. Mendez ◽  
Murray P. Cox ◽  
August Woerner ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Mitochondrial Dna ◽  
Population Growth ◽  
Human Populations ◽  
Y Chromosomes

scholarly journals Ecology of the Anthropocene signals hope for consciously managing the planetary ecosystem

2021 ◽  
Vol 118 (28) ◽  
pp. e2024150118
Author(s):  
Clarence Lehman ◽  
Shelby Loberg ◽  
Michael Wilson ◽  
Eville Gorham
Keyword(s):  
Population Growth ◽  
Cultural Evolution ◽  
Human Population ◽  
Human Populations ◽  
Present Moment ◽  
Minimal Set ◽  
The Past ◽  
Food Species ◽  
Large Predators ◽  
Population Numbers

Human populations have grown to such an extent that our species has become a dominant force on the planet, prompting geologists to begin applying the term Anthropocene to recognize the present moment. Many approaches seek to explain the past and future of human population growth, in the form of narratives and models. Some of the most influential models have parameters that cannot be precisely known but are estimated by expert opinion. Here we apply a unified model of ecology to provide a macroscale summary of the net effects of many microscale processes, using a minimal set of parameters that can be known. Our models match estimates of historic and prehistoric global human population numbers and provide predictions that correspond to some of the more complicated current models. In addition to fitting the data well they reveal that, amidst enormous complexity in our human and prehuman past, three key ecological discontinuities have occurred in turn: 1) becoming dominant competitors of large predators rather than their prey, 2) becoming mutualists with food species rather than acting as predators upon them, and 3) changing from a regime of uncontrolled population growth to one of controlled fertility instead. All three processes have been interlinked with cultural evolution and all three ushered in developments of the Anthropocene. Understanding the trajectories that have delivered us to this stage can help guide prudent paths into the future.

scholarly journals Mitochondrial DNA polymorphism and cardiovascular continuum diseases

2018 ◽  
pp. 9-13
Author(s):  
М.В. Голубенко ◽  
Р.Р. Салахов ◽  
Т.В. Шумакова ◽  
С.В. Буйкин ◽  
О.А. Макеева ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Mitochondrial Dna ◽  
Cardiovascular Diseases ◽  
Mitochondrial Genome ◽  
Dna Polymorphism ◽  
Nuclear Genome ◽  
Published Data ◽  
Human Populations ◽  
Mitochondrial Dna Polymorphism ◽  
Polymorphism Level ◽  
Cardiovascular Continuum

Митохондриальный геном кодирует жизненно важные белки субъединиц дыхательной цепи и характеризуется высоким уровнем полиморфизма в популяциях человека. Однако работы по поиску генов предрасположенности к многофакторным заболеваниям, в том числе сердечно-сосудистым, часто ограничиваются анализом ядерного генома. В то же время показано, что отдельные генотипы мтДНК могут отличаться более высокой или низкой эффективностью окислительного фосфорилирования. Выявлены ассоциации популяционного полиморфизма мтДНК с сердечно-сосудистыми заболеваниями. Согласно результатам наших исследований, а также опубликованных другими авторами результатам ассоциативных и функциональных исследований, можно говорить о том, что эффект полиморфизма мтДНК проявляется чаще не в предрасположенности к сердечно-сосудистым заболеваниям в целом, а в риске развития осложнений и коморбидных фенотипов в пределах синтропии сердечно-сосудистого континуума. Mitochondrial genome, encoding respiratory chain subunits, is characterized by high polymorphism level in human populations. In most studies for susceptibility genes for common diseases, including cardiovascular diseases, the analysis is limited to the nuclear genome. It was shown that particular mtDNA genotypes may differ by oxidative phosphorylation efficiency. Some associations of mtDNA polymorphisms with cardiovascular diseases have been found. According to our results and published data, we suggest that mtDNA effect on cardiovascular system does not manifest in predisposition to cardiovascular diseases themselves but rather in risk of complications and comorbidities in the cardiovascular continuum.

scholarly journals Archaic mitochondrial DNA inserts in modern day nuclear genomes

BMC Genomics ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 20 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Robert Bücking ◽  
Murray P Cox ◽  
Georgi Hudjashov ◽  
Lauri Saag ◽  
Herawati Sudoyo ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Mitochondrial Dna ◽  
Nuclear Dna ◽  
Modern Human ◽  
Sub Saharan Africa ◽  
Next Generation Sequencing Data ◽  
Human Populations ◽  
Sequencing Data ◽  
Modern Humans ◽  
High Coverage ◽  
Nuclear Genomes

Abstract Background Traces of interbreeding of Neanderthals and Denisovans with modern humans in the form of archaic DNA have been detected in the genomes of present-day human populations outside sub-Saharan Africa. Up to now, only nuclear archaic DNA has been detected in modern humans; we therefore attempted to identify archaic mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) residing in modern human nuclear genomes as nuclear inserts of mitochondrial DNA (NUMTs). Results We analysed 221 high-coverage genomes from Oceania and Indonesia using an approach which identifies reads that map both to the nuclear and mitochondrial DNA. We then classified reads according to the source of the mtDNA, and found one NUMT of Denisovan mtDNA origin, present in 15 analysed genomes; analysis of the flanking region suggests that this insertion is more likely to have happened in a Denisovan individual and introgressed into modern humans with the Denisovan nuclear DNA, rather than in a descendant of a Denisovan female and a modern human male. Conclusions Here we present our pipeline for detecting introgressed NUMTs in next generation sequencing data that can be used on genomes sequenced in the future. Further discovery of such archaic NUMTs in modern humans can be used to detect interbreeding between archaic and modern humans and can reveal new insights into the nature of such interbreeding events.

scholarly journals Fertility control to mitigate human–wildlife conflicts: a review

2014 ◽  
Vol 41 (1) ◽  
pp. 1 ◽  
Author(s):  
Giovanna Massei ◽  
Dave Cowan
Keyword(s):  
Population Growth ◽  
Wildlife Management ◽  
Population Level ◽  
Fertility Control ◽  
Public Consultation ◽  
Human Populations ◽  
Wildlife Diseases ◽  
Isolated Populations ◽  
Wild Mammals ◽  
Practical Applications

As human populations grow, conflicts with wildlife increase. Concurrently, concerns about the welfare, safety and environmental impacts of conventional lethal methods of wildlife management restrict the options available for conflict mitigation. In parallel, there is increasing interest in using fertility control to manage wildlife. The present review aimed at analysing trends in research on fertility control for wildlife, illustrating developments in fertility-control technologies and delivery methods of fertility-control agents, summarising the conclusions of empirical and theoretical studies of fertility control applied at the population level and offering criteria to guide decisions regarding the suitability of fertility control to mitigate human–wildlife conflicts. The review highlighted a growing interest in fertility control for wildlife, underpinned by increasing numbers of scientific studies. Most current practical applications of fertility control for wild mammals use injectable single-dose immunocontraceptive vaccines mainly aimed at sterilising females, although many of these vaccines are not yet commercially available. One oral avian contraceptive, nicarbazin, is commercially available in some countries. Potential new methods of remote contraceptive delivery include bacterial ghosts, virus-like particles and genetically modified transmissible and non-transmissible organisms, although none of these have yet progressed to field testing. In parallel, new species-specific delivery systems have been developed. The results of population-level studies of fertility control indicated that this approach may increase survival and affect social and spatial behaviour of treated animals, although the effects are species- and context-specific. The present studies suggested that a substantial initial effort is generally required to reduce population growth if fertility control is the sole wildlife management method. However, several empirical and field studies have demonstrated that fertility control, particularly of isolated populations, can be successfully used to limit population growth and reduce human–wildlife conflicts. In parallel, there is growing recognition of the possible synergy between fertility control and disease vaccination to optimise the maintenance of herd immunity in the management of wildlife diseases. The review provides a decision tree that can be used to determine whether fertility control should be employed to resolve specific human–wildlife conflicts. These criteria encompass public consultation, considerations about animal welfare and feasibility, evaluation of population responses, costs and sustainability.

Mitochondrial DNA Diversity and Evolutionary History of Native Human Populations of Argentinean Northwest Patagonia

Human Biology ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 91 (2) ◽  
pp. 57
Author(s):  
Postillone ◽  
Cobos ◽  
Urrutia ◽  
Dejean ◽  
Gonzalez ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Mitochondrial Dna ◽  
Evolutionary History ◽  
Human Populations ◽  
Dna Diversity ◽  
History Of

Twinning and the r/K Reproductive Strategy: A Critique of Rushton's Theory

1992 ◽  
Vol 41 (1) ◽  
pp. 73-83 ◽  
Author(s):  
G. Allen ◽  
A.W. Eriksson ◽  
J. Fellman ◽  
P. Parisi ◽  
S.G. Vandenberg
Keyword(s):  
Environmental Factors ◽  
Population Growth ◽  
Parental Care ◽  
Ethnic Groups ◽  
Ethnic Differences ◽  
Reproductive Strategy ◽  
Reproductive Strategies ◽  
Human Populations ◽  
Efficient Utilization ◽  
Mode Of Reproduction

AbstractThe theory of r selection, favoring population growth, as opposed to K selection, favoring more efficient utilization of resources, has in recent years been applied by Rushton to contrast human ethnic groups in terms of their r/K reproductive strategies, suggesting the existence of a continuum from r groups, producing many offspring but providing little parental care, to K groups, producing few offspring but providing much parental care. Rushton's theory, which is largely based on ethnic differences in twinning rates, is here critically examined. It is pointed out that twinning rate differences are not necessarily genetic in origin since various environmental factors clearly play a role, and also that twinning, as a mode of reproduction, is not necessarily an r strategy, considering the high prenatal and perinatal selection to which it has been, and still is, associated. Moreover, Rushton misinterprets a number of relevant aspects related to the biology of twinning. The claim that ethnic differences in twinning rates provide evidence for an r/K typology in human populations with respect to reproductive strategies does not appear to be warranted.

Differentiation of Mitochondrial DNA and Y Chromosomes in Russian Populations

Human Biology ◽  
2004 ◽  
Vol 76 (6) ◽  
pp. 877-900 ◽  
Author(s):  
Boris Malyarchuk ◽  
Miroslava Derenko ◽  
Tomasz Grzybowski ◽  
Arina Lunkina ◽  
Jakub Czarny ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Mitochondrial Dna ◽  
Y Chromosomes

scholarly journals The Western and Eastern Roots of the Saami—the Story of Genetic “Outliers” Told by Mitochondrial DNA and Y Chromosomes

2004 ◽  
Vol 74 (4) ◽  
pp. 661-682 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kristiina Tambets ◽  
Siiri Rootsi ◽  
Toomas Kivisild ◽  
Hela Help ◽  
Piia Serk ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Mitochondrial Dna ◽  
Y Chromosomes
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