Human (genetic) adaptation to new environments

The 2023-2024 lecture by Prof. Lluis Quintana-Murci aims to show how genetic studies shed light on how humans have adapted to the diversity of environmental conditions encountered during their dispersal across the planet. The physiological characteristics that favor survival and reproduction in these varied environments may derive from genetic variation and be subject to natural selection. We will explore the different manifestations of natural selection and its role in morphological and physiological diversity within our species, including skin pigmentation, size, ability to digest milk, adaptation to cold or lack of oxygen, and other traits.