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Cave burial has been prevalent in southern China for thousands of years since the Shang and Zhou Dynasties (3600 − 2200 BP). The population history and the genetic contribution of cave burial groups to the formation of present-day southern minorities are largely unknown due to the lack of ancient genomic data. Here, we present the genomic data from four ancient individuals from cave burial sites Baitaishan and Huatudong from the Late Yuan to Ming Dynasties (650 − 300 BP) in Guangxi. We observed a close genetic affinity between the four individuals and published contemporaneous cave burial samples. However, our studied individuals received gene flows from northern East Asians compared to the cave burial groups around 1600 − 1400 years ago. We identified a strong genetic link between these ancient cave burial groups and present-day Hmong-Mien-speaking populations, particularly the geographically adjacent Baiku Yao population, indicating population stability in the mountainous region of southern China over the past few centuries. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR] more...

Objectives: Xinjiang plays a vital role in the trans‐Eurasian population migration, language diffusion, and culture and technology exchange. However, the underrepresentation of Xinjiang's genomes has hindered a more comprehensive understanding of Xinjiang's genetic structure and population history. Materials and Methods: We collected and genotyped 70 southern Xinjiang's Kyrgyz (SXJK) individuals and combined the data with modern and ancient Eurasians published. We used allele‐frequency methods, including PCA, ADMIXTURE, f‐statistics, qpWave/qpAdm, ALDER, Treemix, and haplotype‐shared methods including shared‐IBD segments, fineSTRUCTURE, and GLOBETROTTER to unveil the fine‐scale population structure and reconstruct admixture history. Results: We identified genetic substructure within the SXJK population with subgroups showing different genetic affinities to West and East Eurasians. All SXJK subgroups were suggested to have close genetic relationships with surrounding Turkic‐speaking groups that is, Uyghur, Kyrgyz from north Xinjiang and Tajikistan, and Chinese Kazakh, suggesting a shared ancestry among those populations. Outgroup‐f3 and symmetrical f4 statistics showed a high genetic affinity of SXJK to present‐day Tungusic, Mongolic‐speaking populations and Ancient Northeast Asian (ANA) related groups. Allele sharing and haplotype sharing profiles revealed the east–west admixture pattern of SXJK. The qpAdm‐based admixture models showed that SXJK derived ancestry from East Eurasian (ANA and East Asian, 42.7%–83.3%) and West Eurasian (Western Steppe herders and Central Asian, 16.7%–57.3%), the recent east–west admixture event could be traced to 1000 years ago based on ALDER and GLOBETROTTER analysis. Discussion: The high genetic affinity of SXJK to present‐day Tungusic and Mongolic‐speaking populations and short‐shared IBD segments indicated their shared common ancestry. SXJK harbored a close genetic affinity to ANA‐related populations, indicating the Northeast Asian origin of SXJK. The West and East Eurasian admixture models observed in SXJK further provided evidence of the dynamic admixture history in Xinjiang. The east–west admixture pattern and the identified ancestral makeup of SXJK suggested a genetic continuity from some Iron Age Xinjiang populations to present‐day SXJK. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR] more...

As one of the remaining species of Caprinae only found in Asia, serows (Capricornis) and their classification and conservation have received increasing attention in recent years. However, their evolutionary history and population dynamics are not yet clear. To shed light on these topics, we report the first near-complete ancient mitochondrial genomes from two serow sub-fossils (CADG839 and CADG946) dating to 8860 ± 30 years and 2450 ± 30 years, and incorporate the newly obtained mitogenomes into the dataset of living serows (18 complete mitochondrial genomes drawn from National Center for Biotechnology Information, NCBI) to investigate their relationships and evolution. Phylogenetic results support four clades of serows that can be further divided into five subclades, indicating higher genetic diversity than previously thought. Notably, our two ancient samples do not form a separate branch but belong to Capricornis sumatraensis clade A together with modern individuals, which suggests genetic continuity between ancient and modern serows. Furthermore, our results suggest that the maternal divergences of serows occurred at the beginning of the Pleistocene. Bayesian estimation indicates that the first divergence among all serows happened approximately 2.37 Ma (95% highest posterior density, HPD: 2.74–2.02 Ma) when Japanese serow (Capricornis crispus) appeared, while the last divergence occurred within the Sumatran serow (C. sumatraensis clade A and B) around 0.37–0.25 Ma. Additionally, we found the effective maternal population size of C. sumatraensis increased around 225–160 and 90–50 ka, then remained stable since 50 ka. Overall, our study provides new insights into serow phylogeny and evolutionary history. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR] more...

Scientific advances enable to retrieve and use gametes of a deceased person, thereby creating a child after the death of a genetic parent. This article reviews and compares legislation governing posthumous reproduction in the United States, the United Kingdom, Australia, and Israel. It shows that each country has its own distinctive features, yet three common elements exist—legal ambiguity, a requirement for prior consent, and permission for the partner, but not the parents, to retrieve and use the deceased's gametes. The article demonstrates that courts often do not follow the legal requirements, and thus there are no clear guiding principles regarding posthumous reproduction. The article then discusses three justifications for permitting posthumous reproduction in the absence of the deceased's prior consent. The first justification relates to an interest in 'genetic continuity', which reflects people's desire in leaving a 'piece' of themselves in the world and maintaining a chain of continuity. The second justification concerns the 'respect-for-wishes' model of autonomy, according to which people must be treated in a way that we assume they would want to be treated. The third justification touches upon the interests of the deceased's partner and parents, as well as of the resulting child. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR] more...

Biometric latent growth curve models were applied to data from the LTS in order to replicate and extend Wilson's (Child Dev 54:298-316, ) findings. Assessments of cognitive development were available from 8 measurement occasions covering the period 4-15 years for 1032 individuals. Latent growth curve models were fit to percent correct for 7 subscales: information, similarities, arithmetic, vocabulary, comprehension, picture completion, and block design. Models were fit separately to WPPSI (ages 4-6 years) and WISC-R (ages 7-15). Results indicated the expected increases in heritability in younger childhood, and plateaus in heritability as children reached age 10 years. Heritability of change, per se (slope estimates), varied dramatically across domains. Significant genetic influences on slope parameters that were independent of initial levels of performance were found for only information and picture completion subscales. Thus evidence for both genetic continuity and genetic innovation in the development of cognitive abilities in childhood were found. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR] more...

Here, we report genome-wide data analyses from 110 ancient Near Eastern individuals spanning the Late Neolithic to Late Bronze Age, a period characterized by intense interregional interactions for the Near East. We find that 6 th millennium BCE populations of North/Central Anatolia and the Southern Caucasus shared mixed ancestry on a genetic cline that formed during the Neolithic between Western Anatolia and regions in today's Southern Caucasus/Zagros. During the Late Chalcolithic and/or the Early Bronze Age, more than half of the Northern Levantine gene pool was replaced, while in the rest of Anatolia and the Southern Caucasus, we document genetic continuity with only transient gene flow. Additionally, we reveal a genetically distinct individual within the Late Bronze Age Northern Levant. Overall, our study uncovers multiple scales of population dynamics through time, from extensive admixture during the Neolithic period to long-distance mobility within the globalized societies of the Late Bronze Age. VIDEO ABSTRACT., Competing Interests: Declaration of Interests The authors declare no competing interests., (Copyright © 2020 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.) more...

The Anopheles mosquito Hyrcanus Group is widely distributed geographically across both Palearctic and Oriental regions and comprises 26 valid species. Although the species Anopheles sinensis Wiedemann (1828) is the most common in China and has a low potential vector rank, it has nevertheless long been thought to be an important natural malaria vector within the middle and lower reaches of the Yangtze River. A number of previous research studies have found evidence to support the occurrence of natural hybridization between An. sinensis and Anopheles kleini Rueda, 2005 (a competent malaria vector). We, therefore, collected a sample series of An. sinensis and morphologically similar species across China and undertook ribosomal and mitochondrial DNA analyses in order to assess genetic differentiation (Fst) and gene flow (Nm) amongst different groups. This enabled us to evaluate divergence times between morphologically similar species using the cytochrome oxidase I (COI) gene. The results of this study reveal significant genetic similarities between An. sinensis, An. kleini, and Anopheles belenrae Rueda, 2005 and therefore imply that correct molecular identifications will require additional molecular markers. As results also reveal the presence of gene flow between these three species, their taxonomic status will require further work. Data suggest that An. kleini is the most basal of the three species, while An. sinensis and An. belenrae share the closest genetic relationship., (© The Author(s) 2019. Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of Entomological Society of America. All rights reserved. For permissions, please e-mail: journals.permissions@oup.com.) more...