Genomic Evolution and Adaptation in Africa: Implications for Health and Disease

Africa is thought to be the ancestral homeland of all modern human populations within the last 300,000 years. The region is also home to tremendous cultural, linguistic, climatic and genetic diversity. Despite the significant role that African populations have played in human history, they remain one of the most underrepresented groups in human genomics studies. Comprehensive knowledge of patterns of variation in African genomes is critical for a deeper understanding of human genomic diversity, the identification of functionally important genetic variation, the genetic basis of adaptation to diverse environments and diets, and the origins of modern humans.

In this lecture, Sarah Tishkoff will discuss how she and colleagues characterized genomic variation in thousands of ethnically and geographically diverse Africans to reconstruct human population history and local adaptation to variable environments. Through this work, they have identified candidate loci that play a role in lipid metabolism and skin color.

To attend this in-person event, you will need to register in advance and provide:

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Guests are expected to complete these requirements each time they visit the Simons Foundation and entrance will not be granted without this documentation.

On-site registration will not be permitted. Walk-in entry will be denied.