A5076698573- Evolutionary Game Theory and Cooperation
- Evolutionary Psychology and Human Behavior
- Primate Behavior and Ecology
- Language and cultural evolution
- Forensic and Genetic Research
- Pleistocene-Era Hominins and Archaeology
- Experimental Behavioral Economics Studies
- Gut microbiota and health
- Demographic Trends and Gender Preferences
- Forensic Anthropology and Bioarchaeology Studies
- Genetic diversity and population structure
- Indigenous Studies and Ecology
- Oral microbiology and periodontitis research
- Genetic and phenotypic traits in livestock
- Wildlife Ecology and Conservation
- Health disparities and outcomes
- Romani and Gypsy Studies
- Genetic Associations and Epidemiology
- Rangeland Management and Livestock Ecology
- Gender, Labor, and Family Dynamics
- Adipose Tissue and Metabolism
- Folklore, Mythology, and Literature Studies
- Child and Animal Learning Development
- Salivary Gland Disorders and Functions
- Race, Genetics, and Society
University of Zurich
2018-2030
University College London
2015-2030
Museum of Indian Arts and Culture
2019
Google (United States)
2015
Leverhulme Trust
2009-2011
University of Cambridge
2006-2011
Whole-genome data indicate that early modern humans expanded into Australia 62,000 to 75,000 years ago.
It is commonly thought that human genetic diversity in non-African populations was shaped primarily by an out-of-Africa dispersal 50–100 thousand yr ago (kya). Here, we present a study of 456 geographically diverse high-coverage Y chromosome sequences, including 299 newly reported samples. Applying ancient DNA calibration, date the Y-chromosomal most recent common ancestor (MRCA) Africa at 254 (95% CI 192–307) kya and detect cluster major founder haplogroups narrow time interval 47–52 kya,...
Abstract This study investigates variation in body growth (cross‐sectional height and weight velocity) among a sample of 22 small‐scale societies. Considerable exists hunter‐gatherers that overlaps heavily with trajectories present groups focusing more on horticulture. Intergroup tends to track environmental conditions, societies under favorable conditions displaying faster earlier puberty. In addition, faster/earlier development females is correlated higher mortality. For example, African...
Storytelling is a human universal. From gathering around the camp-fire telling tales of ancestors to watching latest television box-set, humans are inveterate producers and consumers stories. Despite its ubiquity, little attention has been given understanding function evolution storytelling. Here we explore impact storytelling on hunter-gatherer cooperative behaviour individual-level fitness benefits being skilled storyteller. Stories told by Agta, Filipino population, convey messages...
The social organization of mobile hunter-gatherers has several derived features, including low within-camp relatedness and fluid meta-groups. Although these features have been proposed to provided the selective context for evolution human hypercooperation cumulative culture, how such a distinctive system may emerged remains unclear. We present an agent-based model suggesting that, even if all individuals in community seek live with as many kin possible, is reduced men women equal influence...
Do caregivers in non‐Western communities adapt their behaviors to the needs of infants? This question reflects one most long‐standing debates on universality versus culture‐specificity caregiver–infant interactions general and sensitive responsiveness infants particular. In this article, an integration both points view is presented, based theoretical origins construct combined with ethnographic literature different parts world. advocates without uniformity, calls for multidisciplinary...
Explanations for the evolution of human pygmies continue to be a matter controversy, recently fuelled by disagreements surrounding interpretation fossil hominin Homo floresiensis. Traditional hypotheses assume that small body size is an adaptation special challenges, such as thermoregulation, locomotion in dense forests, or endurance against starvation. Here, we present analysis stature, growth, and individual fitness large population Aeta smaller one Batak from Philippines compare it with...
Abstract Maladaptation to modern diets has been implicated in several chronic disorders. Given the higher prevalence of disease such as dental caries and gum diseases industrialized societies, we sought investigate impact different subsistence strategies on oral health physiology, documented by microbiome. To control for confounding variables environment host genetics, sampled saliva from three pairs populations hunter‐gatherers traditional farmers living close proximity Philippines. Deep...
Hunter-gatherers from different bands form fluid social networks that facilitate cultural innovation through recombination of traditions.
The Neolithic demographic transition remains a paradox, because it is associated with both higher rates of population growth and increased morbidity mortality rates. Here we reconcile the conflicting evidence by proposing that spread agriculture involved life history quality-quantity trade-off whereby mothers traded offspring survival for fertility, achieving greater reproductive success despite deteriorating health. We test this hypothesis investigating mortality, health, overall in Agta...
Pygmy populations occupy a vast territory extending west-to-east along the central African belt from Congo Basin to Lake Victoria. However, their numbers and actual distribution is not known precisely. Here, we undertake this task by using locational data population sizes for an unprecedented number of camps settlements ( n = 654) in five nine countries where currently distributed. With these develop spatial models based on favourability function, which distinguish areas with favourable...
Individuals' centrality in their social network (who they and ties are connected to) has been associated with fertility, longevity, disease information transmission a range of taxa. Here, we present the first exploration humans relationship between reproductive success different measures 39 Agta 38 BaYaka mothers. We collected three-meter contact ('proximity') networks histories to test prediction that individual is positively fitness (number living offspring). Rather than direct influencing...
The evolutionary history of African hunter-gatherers holds key insights into modern human diversity. Here, we combine ethnographic and genetic data on Central (CAHG) to show that their current distribution density are explained by ecology rather than a displacement marginal habitats due recent farming expansions, as commonly assumed. We also estimate the range hunter-gatherer presence across Africa over past 120,000 years using paleoclimatic reconstructions, which were statistically...
Human evolutionary history in Central Africa reflects a deep of population connectivity. However, African hunter-gatherers (CAHGs) currently speak languages acquired from their neighbouring farmers. Hence it remains unclear which aspects CAHG cultural diversity results long-term evolution preceding agriculture and reflect borrowing On the basis musical instruments, foraging tools, specialized vocabulary genome-wide data ten populations, we reveal evidence large-scale interconnectivity among...
While ecological specialization, social differentiation and division of labour are found in many species, extensive irreversible interdependence among culturally specialized producers is a characteristic feature humans. By extending the concept cultural ratcheting (or evolution products such complexity that they become very unlikely to be recreated from scratch by naive individuals), we present simulation models showing how cumulative may have engendered parallel process ‘social ratcheting’...
Women who care for multiple highly dependent children require significant support from non-maternal caregivers (allomothers). Theoretically, grandmothers are seen as key allomothers due to low costs and high inclusive fitness returns. Empirically, however, the evidence is inconsistent reasons this variation not well-understood. Understanding factors which promote, or hinder, grandmaternal childcare, such demographic schedules, an important next step. Here, we explore predictors of levels...
'Simple' hunter-gatherer populations adopt the social norm of 'demand sharing', an example human hyper-cooperation whereby food brought into camps is claimed and divided by group members. Explaining how demand sharing evolved without punishment to free riders, who rarely hunt but receive resources from active hunters, has been a long-standing problem. Here we show through simulation model that demand-sharing families continuously move between in response their energy income are able survive...
The ‘technological hypothesis’ proposes that gestural language evolved in early hominins to enable the cultural transmission of stone tool-making skills, with speech appearing later response complex lithic industries more recent hominins. However, no flintknapping study has assessed efficiency alone (unassisted by gesture) as a aid. Here we show subjects instructed underperform experiments comparison through either gesture or ‘full language’ (gesture plus speech), and also report lower...
High-fidelity transmission of information through imitation and teaching has been proposed as necessary for cumulative cultural evolution. Yet, it is unclear when which knowledge domains children employ different social learning processes. This paper explores the development processes play in BaYaka hunter-gatherer by analysing video recordings time budgets from early infancy to adolescence. From childhood, learn mainly imitating observing others' activities. occurs playgroups practice....