#genetic-variation

#genetic-variation

A long history of studies in human genetics has investigated how the powerful evolutionary pressure of endemic malaria has resulted in the selection of genetic variants that moderate the effect of the disease. In 1948, J. B. S. Haldane first suggested that heterozygous carriers of alleles that confer β-thalassaemia, a life-threatening anaemia at that time, could reduce mortality during malaria infection, and this 'heterozygote advantage' might explain the increased frequency

While some can inhale foods as hot as ghost peppers, others can barely tolerate a small amount of red peppers sprinkled atop a slice of pizza. And the significant variance in spice tolerance can seem like a mystery, but one's tolerance to heat is about more than grit - it has roots in science. Pepper's spiciness emanates from a compound known as capsaicin, a natural substance that binds to the same receptor in your mouth that detects heat and pain.

Whole-genome sequencing in 490,640 UK Biobank participants has enabled the discovery of approximately 1.5 billion genetic variants, vastly surpassing previous technologies in observed variation.