Human Phenotypic Diversity: An Evolutionary Perspective.
As humans migrated across the world, they encountered new environments requiring them to adapt to new challenges that presented themselves. The distribution of human phenotypes observed today is the result of this continuous adaptation, via biological/physiological and cultural means, and also by the modification of cultural practices, which leads to biological changes. In this chapter, we examine a number of adaptive traits and the roles played by their genetic and environmental determinants. We have selected a few traits used for human identification purposes (externally visible characteristics), associated with human metabolism and linked to a shift in subsistence method and food consumption. We discuss the evolutionary processes that have affected the temporal and spatial distribution of these traits, including natural, sexual, and cultural selection.
Laboratoire d´Anthropologie Moléculaire et Imagerie de Synthèse (AMIS), UMR5288-CNRS & Université Paul Sabatier-Toulouse III, Toulouse, France. Electronic address: patricia.balaresque@univ-tlse3.fr.
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Balaresque
University of Leicester, Leicester, United Kingdom.
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TE
King
D000220:Adaptation, Biological / Q000235:genetics; D000532:Altitude Sickness / Q000235:genetics; D005075:Biological Evolution; D015992:Body Mass Index; D049628:Body Size / Q000235:genetics; D001835:Body Weight / Q000235:genetics; D005127:Eye Color / Q000235:genetics; D005260:Female; D014644:Genetic Variation; D006200:Hair Color / Q000235:genetics; D006801:Humans; D043322:Lactase / Q000235:genetics; D008297:Male; D010641:Phenotype; D012641:Selection, Genetic; D012880:Skin Pigmentation / Q000235:genetics; D014796:Visual Perception
D043322:Lactase
Adaptation natural; Complex traits; Genetic and environmental components; Phenotypes; Sexual and cultural selection