Ancient DNA Reveals Early European Adaptations to Agriculture
Researchers from The University of Texas at Austin and UCLA have used ancient DNA to uncover how early Europeans adapted to environmental changes over 7,000 years. By analyzing over 700 samples from different historical periods, they identified genetic adaptations, such as the ability to digest milk and produce vitamin D, that were crucial for survival but have since become less detectable in modern genomes. This study highlights the role of ancient DNA in understanding human evolutionary history and the impact of agriculture and population mixing on genetic traits.
