Modern Humans that look pretty much like us and with a brain size similar to ours appeared about 100,000 to 200,000 years ago. However, human evolution has not stopped. Evolutionary adaptations have permitted humans to occupy and thrive in almost all regions of the Earth. Dr. Nielsen will discuss how human genetic diversity makes this possible. While Homo sapiens is the only hominid species that survives today, traces of our extinct cousins can be found in the genes of some modern humans. As a consequence of interbreeding with humans, these hominids bequeathed genes to some modern humans that enables them to live at high altitudes. Natural selection of genetic mutations explains how some humans have adapted to survival in extremely cold environments. Understanding these genetic changes helps us understand how diets beneficial to some humans, may not be healthy for everyone.
Rasmus Nielsen received his Ph.D. from UC-Berkeley in 1998, did postdoctoral research at Harvard University and worked as an assistant professor at Cornell University from 2000-2004. From 2004 he has been a Professor of Biology at the University of Copenhagen and he joins the faculty at the departments of Integrative Biology and Statistics at Berkeley as an Associate Professor in Jan. 2008.
Rasmus Nielsen’s research focuses on statistical and computational aspects of evolutionary theory and genetics. One of the central problems he has been interested in is the molecular basis of evolutionary adaptation. What happens at the molecular levels as one species is transformed into another over evolutionary time?
There will be a luncheon starting at 12:30 for a nominal fee. Everyone is welcome.