- Charles Sturt University A provocative public lecture in Port Macquarie on Wednesday 10 April will explore ancient human history and genetic selection.
- Our evolutionary history makes humans an excellent model system to study rapid genetic adaptation to climate change
- Research shows that a key step in human evolution was a major step in genetic selection for low temperatures
A leading Charles Sturt University researcher will discuss how his recent research has led to the new field of evolutionary medicine at a public lecture in Port Macquarie on Wednesday, April 10. I plan to explain.
Alan Cooper (pictured), professor of evolution and environmental change at the Charles Sturt Gulbari Institute for Agriculture, Water and the Environment, says that when modern humans left Africa, there were hidden but hidden genes in our genome. He explained that harsh genetic selection and adaptation over a long period of time in Arabia has been recorded.
“The genetic systems we have modified to survive the harsh conditions of the cold, dry desert are responsible for a variety of modern lifestyle diseases, from obesity to autism.” Professor Cooper says.
“This hidden record shows the promise of evolutionary medicine, as past changes highlight key interacting genes and systems buried within modern human populations.”
Organizers of the public lecture in Port Macquarie, Vice-Chancellor (Research) Charles Sturt and Professor Mark Evans said the lecture series will help the university achieve excellence in applied research and foster impactful partnerships. This is evidence of the efforts of
“Charles Sturt University research consistently delivers tangible benefits to communities, industry, governments and businesses because it is driven by a true passion for creating meaningful change,” he said. Ta.
“The University's research initiatives aim to make a positive impact locally, nationally and globally through a dedicated commitment to contributing to the sustainability and well-being of the communities we serve.”
Professor Cooper led the recently published study “The Role of Genetic Selection and Climatic Factors in the Dispersal of Anatomically Modern Humans from Africa” (Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, Tobler et al., March 2023).
He explained that when modern humans left Africa and migrated around the world just 55,000 years ago, they were forced to rapidly adapt to multiple new environments. As a result, humans represent an excellent model animal system to study rapid genetic adaptation to climate change.
“Our genome records a long but currently unknown period during which we were confined to the Arabian Peninsula. During this 'Arabian stasis' approximately 80,000 to 55,000 years ago” , the major gene networks involved in regulating fat, nerves, and skin all changed.
“Related genes were also introduced from the Neanderthals with whom we interbred at the end of this stage.
“Remarkably, many of these same genes are now associated with major modern diseases, from autism to obesity to cardiovascular disease, ushering in a whole new field of evolutionary medicine.”
If you would like to learn more about this fascinating topic, get a free ticket to the Provocations Public Lecture from 4pm to 5pm through Humanitix. Refreshments will be available at the venue, Charles Sturt University, Building 802, Room 1161, Major Innes Road, Port Macquarie.
Media notes:
To arrange an interview with Albury-Wodonga resident Professor Alan Cooper, please contact Bruce Andrews at Charles Sturt Media on 0418 669 362 or news@csu.edu.au.
The Galbari Institute for Agriculture, Water and Environment is a strategic investment by Charles Sturt University that will drive integrated research to optimize agricultural systems, strengthen freshwater ecosystems and improve environmental management, supporting research across Australia and around the world. benefits the whole.
Professor Alan Cooper is Professor of Evolution and Environmental Change at Charles Sturt University in Albury-Wodonga. His interdisciplinary research integrates genomics, climate and environmental change, bioinformatics and mathematics, archaeology, microbiology, paleontology, and medicine, and he has published more than 35 papers in journals. . nature and science. He has been centrally involved in the development of the ancient DNA field since 1989 at the University of California, Berkeley, along with Svante Pääbo (2022 Nobel Laureate) and Alan Wilson. He was the inaugural Professor of Ancient Biomolecules at the University of Oxford (2001). From 2005 to 2020 he was an ARC Federation, Future and Laureate Fellow at the University of Adelaide, where he founded the Australian Center for Ancient DNA. He was awarded the South Australian Scientist of the Year (2016/2017), won the Eureka Award (2017), and is the author of several publications that use ancient DNA to reconstruct the pre-European history of Aboriginal Australia. He led an award-winning Aboriginal heritage project. For more information, please visit www.blueskygenetics.com.