A Companion To Anthropological Genetics

Explore the latest research in anthropological genetics and understand the genome’s role in cultural and social development

A Companion to Anthropological Genetics illustrates the role of genetic analysis in advancing the modern study of human origins, populations, evolution, and diversity. Broad in scope, this essential reference work establishes and explores the relationship between genetic research and the major questions of anthropological study. Through contributions by leading researchers, this collection explores molecular genetics and evolutionary mechanisms in the context of macro- and microevolution, paleontology, phylogeny, diet, and disease, with detailed explanations of quantitative methods, including coalescent and approximate Bayesian computation.

With an emphasis on contextualizing new and developing genetic research within anthropological frameworks, this text offers critical perspective on the conditions of molecular evolution that accompany cultural and social transformation, while also addressing critical disciplinary questions, such as the ethical issues surrounding ancestry testing and community-based genetic research. 

• Acts as an essential reference on the contributions of genetic science to the field of anthropology
• Features new work by leading researchers of the field
• Explores the evolution of immunity, including the genetics and epigenetics of pathogens, chronic illness, and disease resistance
• Provides in-depth examination of mutation and dietary adaptation, including AMY1, lactase persistence, and sensory polymorphisms
• Explains essential quantitative and phylogenetic methods for aligning genomic analysis with evolution and migration time scales

Offering thorough coverage on leading questions and developing research, A Companion to Anthropological Genetics is a comprehensive resource for students and scholars. 

Dennis H. O'Rourke, PhD, is Foundation Distinguished Professor of Anthropology at the University of Kansas, USA, and Professor Emeritus at the University of Utah, USA. He is co-editor of Human Biology: An Evolutionary and Biocultural Perspective, Second Edition (Wiley Blackwell, 2012), associate editor of The International Encyclopedia of Biological Anthropology (Wiley Blackwell, 2018), and has authored articles and book chapters on topics in biological and genetic anthropology. His current research focuses on the use of genetic data to identify signatures of population migration, colonization, and expansion in the North American high arctic.