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The availability of new genome sequence data and sophisticated analysis methods are enriching our understanding of human demographic history. The emerging model is more complex than the single origin hypothesis, and instead invokes a degree of gene flow between subpopulations.
Because of the complex phenotypes that are involved, the genetic basis of mate choice is particularly hard to unravel. Approaches that integrate classical quantitative genetics with modern genomic approaches promise to accelerate progress in this area.
If most evolutionary changes affect the regulation rather than the structure of proteins, then studying the evolution of gene expression levels will help us to understand phenotypic changes. How can this approach identify the defining differences between humans and chimpanzees?
Recent advances from a range of systems have led to a rethink of how insulators prevent inappropriate interactions between neighbouring chromatin domains. The results suggest that, rather than having novel modes of action, insulators use adaptations of known regulatory mechanisms.
Chromatin modifications affect many aspects of epigenetic inheritance and cell biology. The authors focus on evolutionary relationships among proteins containing the Jumonji C domain — the largest class of histone demethylases — and discuss their functions in relation to potential enzymatic activities.
Artificial evolution implements the rules of natural evolution in algorithms that aim to solve biological and computational problems. The authors propose a new discipline, computational evolution, that replaces the outdated principles of artificial evolution with a modern understanding of biology.
