Genetic absolute dating based on microsatellites and the origin of modern humans.

• DOI: 10.1073/pnas.92.15.6723
• Publication Date: 2006-05-31T13:16:00Z
• Authors: D B Goldstein; A Ruiz Linares; L L Cavalli-Sforza; M W Feldman
• Keywords: Genetic distance; Divergence (linguistics); Effective population size

We introduce a new genetic distance for microsatellite loci, incorporating features of the stepwise mutation model, and test its performance on polymorphisms in humans, chimpanzees, gorillas. find that it performs well determining relations among primates, but less than other measures (not based model) closely related human populations. However, deepest split phylogeny seems to be accurately reconstructed by separates African non-African The is independent population size therefore allows direct estimation divergence times if rate known. Based 30 recently reported average 5.6 x 10(-4) at 15 dinucleotide microsatellites, we estimate occurred about 156,000 years ago. Unlike most previous estimates, ours requires no external calibration molecular evolution. can use such calibrations, however, our estimate.