Comment on papers by Evans et al. and Mekel-Bobrov et al. on Evidence for Positive Selection of MCPH1 and ASPM.
Evans et al. and Mekel-Bobrov et al. (Reports, 9 September 2005, p. 1717 and 1720, respectively) reported that human genetic variants of Microcephalin (MCPH1) and abnormal spindle-like microcephaly associated (ASPM) are under strong positive selection. We genotyped these variants in 9000 children and find no meaningful associations with brain size and various cognitive measures, which indicates that contrary to previous speculations, ASPM and MCPH1 have not been selected for brain-related effects.
Timpson
Nicholas
N
MRC Centre for Causal Analyses in Translational Epidemiology, University of Bristol, Canynge Hall, Whiteladies Road, Bristol BS8 2PR, UK.
Heron
Jon
J
Smith
George Davey
GD
Enard
Wolfgang
W
D001921:Brain / Q000033:anatomy & histology* / Q000502:physiology; D018797:Cell Cycle Proteins; D002508:Cephalometry; D002648:Child; D003071:Cognition; D003598:Cytoskeletal Proteins; D005838:Genotype; D006239:Haplotypes; D006801:Humans; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D008606:Mental Processes; D009048:Motor Skills; D009419:Nerve Tissue Proteins / Q000235:genetics*; D020641:Polymorphism, Single Nucleotide; D012641:Selection, Genetic
C467202:ASPM protein, human; D018797:Cell Cycle Proteins; D003598:Cytoskeletal Proteins; C460645:MCPH1 protein, human; D009419:Nerve Tissue Proteins