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Human variation

Studies of genetic differences between people and populations can shed light on what makes us individual and on the history and evolution of humans as a species.

Features

Image for Video feature: People of the British Isles
Video feature: People of the British Isles
What does Britishness mean to a scientist? How does a person from Kent differ from one from the Hebrides? People of the British Isles is a project cataloguing the genetic basis of the entire UK. 08/12/10
Image for Creating variation
Creating variation
Evolutionary change by natural selection (or genetic drift) requires variation in DNA. Where does this variation come from? 15/01/07
Image for Naming names
Naming names
If two men have the same surname, how likely are they to be related? 23/10/06
Image for Meet the ancestors
Meet the ancestors
What fossils and genetics tell us about human evolution. 03/10/06
Image for Are humans still evolving?
Are humans still evolving?
We may have removed many selective pressures, but humans probably are still evolving. 29/09/06
Image for Tracing human evolution
Tracing human evolution
History meets the human genome. 29/09/06
Image for Is size everything? Controlling human brain size
Is size everything? Controlling human brain size
Human genetics, genome sequencing projects and cell biology are providing fascinating insights into the origins of our most important organ - the brain. 04/10/05
Image for A series of fortunate events
A series of fortunate events
Scientists are analysing genetic differences between humans and chimpanzees to shed light on the evolution of the human brain. 01/10/05
Image for Gene geography: History's genetic legacy
Gene geography: History's genetic legacy
Three Oxford professors are Investigating how genetic structure varies geographically in the UK. 15/12/04
Image for Genes and alcoholism
Genes and alcoholism
Finding the genes that drive us to drink. 01/06/04
Image for Chimpanzees shed light on the evolution of human senses
Chimpanzees shed light on the evolution of human senses
Insights into the evolution of sight, smell and speech are emerging from comparisons of the human genome with the DNA of chimpanzees and other primates. 19/03/04
Image for Clues to the evolution of humans' large brain
Clues to the evolution of humans' large brain
A birth defect gene may be key to evolution of humans' large brain. 08/03/04
Image for DNA fingerprinting and national DNA databases
DNA fingerprinting and national DNA databases
In part 3 of the DNA fingerprinting story, Sir Alec Jeffreys discusses the introduction of PCR to DNA fingerprinting and the launch of the National DNA database, and argues for a DNA database for all citizens. 24/02/04
Image for DNA fingerprinting enters society
DNA fingerprinting enters society
Part 2 of the DNA fingerprinting story looks at immigration disputes and criminology. 12/02/04
Image for Discovering DNA fingerprinting
Discovering DNA fingerprinting
Forensics, paternity and immigration have been revolutionised by DNA fingerprinting. Sir Alec Jeffreys describes its development. 04/02/04
Image for Mitochondrial DNA and human history
Mitochondrial DNA and human history
Studies of mDNA can solve genetic and historical riddles, as Bryan Sykes explains. 10/09/03
Image for Lands of our fathers: Y-chromosome diversity and the histories of human populations
Lands of our fathers: Y-chromosome diversity and the histories of human populations
Mark Jobling explores the Y chromosome and human history. 24/06/03
Image for The roots of red hair
The roots of red hair
People with red hair have a variant in just one gene, as Jonathan Rees discusses. 02/04/03
Image for Genes and drug responses
Genes and drug responses
Variations in the human genome are associated with differing responses to drugs. 05/09/02