Logo Lanfrica
  • Home
  • Atlas
  • Insights
  • Docs
  • Sign in

© 2026 Lanfrica. All rights reserved. All copyrights of the resources shown on the Lanfrica website belong to the original copyright holders, unless explicitly stated otherwise.

Evolutionary Genetics and Admixture in African Populations

Domain:

healthcare
Creator:
AarLinPaiJos
Publisher:
Oxf
Host:
Abstract As the ancestral homeland of our species, Africa contains elevated levels of genetic diversity and substantial population structure. Importantly, African genomes are heterogeneous: They contain mixtures of multiple ancestries, each of which have experienced different evolutionary histories. In this review, we view population genetics through the lens of admixture, highlighting how multiple demographic events have shaped African genomes. Each of these historical vignettes paints a recurring picture of population divergence followed by secondary contact. First, we give a brief overview of genetic variation in Africa and examine deep population structure within Africa, including the evidence of ancient introgression from archaic “ghost” populations. Second, we describe the genetic legacies of admixture events that have occurred during the past 10,000 years. This includes gene flow between different click-speaking Khoe-San populations, the stepwise spread of pastoralism from eastern to southern Africa, multiple migrations of Bantu speakers across the continent, as well as admixture from the Middle East and Europe into the Sahel region and North Africa. Furthermore, the genomic signatures of more recent admixture can be found in the Cape Peninsula and throughout the African diaspora. Third, we highlight how natural selection has shaped patterns of genetic variation across the continent, noting that gene flow provides a potent source of adaptive variation and that selective pressures vary across Africa. Finally, we explore the biomedical implications of population structure in Africa on health and disease and call for more ethically conducted studies of genetic variation in Africa.

Visit

doi.org

Licenses

https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/

Similar

Evolutionary genetics of skin pigmentation in African populationsDemographic history and admixture dynamics in African Sahelian populationsAdmixture history of the South African "Coloured" populationsGenetics of breast cancer in African populations: a literature reviewSex Differences in the Genetics of Sarcoidosis Across European and African Ancestry PopulationsEstimation of admixture and detection of linkage in admixed populations by a Bayesian approach: application to African‐American populations

Evolutionary genetics of skin pigmentation in African populations

Abstract Skin color is a highly heritable human trait, and global variation in skin

Demographic history and admixture dynamics in African Sahelian populations

Abstract The Sahel/Savannah belt of Africa is a contact zone between two subsistence systems (nomad

Admixture history of the South African "Coloured" populations

Admixed people formed from colonial era migrations are a major feature of present-day diversity. In

Genetics of breast cancer in African populations: a literature review

Breast cancer (BC) is one of the most complex, diverse and leading cause of death in women worldwide

Sex Differences in the Genetics of Sarcoidosis Across European and African Ancestry Populations

Abstract Background: Sex differences in the susceptibility of sarcoidosis are unknown. T

Estimation of admixture and detection of linkage in admixed populations by a Bayesian approach: application to African‐American populations

We describe a novel method for analysis of marker genotype data from admixed populations, based on a