HUMANS HAVE EVOLVED to be faster-thinking and taller than ever before.
That is the finding of a new study on human populations around the world from the University of Edinburgh.
The research also indicates that those born to parents of diverse DNA backgrounds are taller and smarter.
Researchers analysed health and genetic information from more than 100 studies carried out around the world, including details on more than 350,000 people from urban and rural communities.
The team found that greater genetic diversity is linked to increased height and is also associated with better cognitive skills, as well as higher levels of education.
However, genetic diversity had no effect on factors such as high blood pressure or cholesterol levels, which affect a person’s chances of developing heart disease, diabetes and other complex conditions.
The researchers examined the DNA of people to see if their ancestors were related. While it has been thought that closely linked historic DNA could increase chances of DNA, the only factors affected are height and the speed of thought of a person.
Dr Peter Joshi, of the University of Edinburgh’s Usher Institute, said: “Our research answers questions first posed by Darwin as to the benefits of genetic diversity. Our next step will be to hone in on the specific parts of the genome that most benefit from diversity.”
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