The hottest Population Genetics Substack posts right now

Mathematical arguments claim natural selection doesn’t have enough time or fixation power to produce the huge genomic differences between humans and chimps. The critique points to numbers like ~202,500 available generations, a ~1,600-generation fixation ceiling, and a near-5σ improbability to support that claim.
The field of evolutionary biology is criticized as mathematically underprepared, with historical and contemporary exchanges presented as evidence that biologists often can’t answer quantitative objections. Common defenses such as parallel fixation or neutral theory are argued to either abandon Darwinism or fail on mathematical grounds.
An alternative called Intelligent Genetic Manipulation (Gray Day Theory) is proposed as the most parsimonious explanation for observed genetic variation, and new models like a Bio-Cycle fixation correction are offered. The critique also warns that peer review and AI systems can be fooled by fake science and that AI collaboration was used to develop the mathematical work.

Common genetic variants in meiosis genes change how many crossovers happen, and fewer crossovers raise the risk of embryo aneuploidy; those genetic risks are also tied to a shorter reproductive lifespan (later menarche and earlier menopause).
A measurable fraction of people carry high Epstein–Barr virus DNA in blood, and host immune genetics — especially HLA — largely determine who can’t control persistent EBV, while viral sequence differences had little impact on disease in this large cohort.
When you exclude extrinsic causes of death, intrinsic human lifespan is about 50–55% heritable, meaning genetics explain roughly half the variation in lifespan today, and older lower estimates were driven by higher environmental mortality in past cohorts.

Greenland has a long history of human habitation, starting with the Paleo-Eskimos over 5,000 years ago, showing that there were different groups living there long before the Norse arrived.
Genomic studies reveal that many modern populations replace earlier inhabitants, suggesting that what we consider 'native' can change over time based on migration and adaptation.
The idea of who is indigenous or native can be complicated, as both the Norse and the Thule culture that followed them were newcomers who replaced previous populations in Greenland.

The Yamnaya expansion about 5,000 years ago was mainly a cultural and institutional revolution—mobility, technologies, and social organization spread languages and ways of life more than they changed human biology.
Their movement was boosted by accidental spread of pathogens and patterns of male-line dominance that helped patriarchy and certain Y-chromosome lineages scale across Eurasia.
Modern humans are genetically very similar, so the biggest historical shifts come from cumulative cultural evolution and shared knowledge built over hundreds of thousands of years, not from small recent genetic differences.

Plagues have played a big role in shaping human history, affecting everything from wars to economies. The Black Death, for example, changed Europe's structure and pushed it towards the Renaissance.
Diseases have not only influenced cultures but also human genetics. They have forced our bodies to adapt, showing that sickness can drive evolution.
Just like in the past, new diseases can lead to major shifts in society. When Europeans brought diseases like smallpox to the Americas, it weakened local populations and made them vulnerable to conquest.

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Human evolutionary science has shifted from complex models to explain the intricacies of our origins.
Advances in genetics, DNA analysis, and paleoanthropology have revolutionized our understanding of human evolution.
The concept of a single, simple origin of modern humans from Africa has evolved into a more complex and rich tapestry of multiple populations and dynamics.

Daniel MacArthur is working on making genomic medicine fairer for all communities. His research includes studying genetic differences in underrepresented groups to improve health outcomes.
He believes that funding for science needs to be more flexible and stable. This would allow researchers to take risks and pursue long-term projects without the constant pressure of grant deadlines.
MacArthur thinks research organizations should be built specifically to support scientific work. Many current institutions are not designed for research, making it harder for scientists to succeed.