Human Genetic and Cultural Evolution

We investigate the interplay between human genetic and cultural evolution by addressing fundamental questions such as: How were early human populations structured? What selective constraints are uniquely human? What evolutionary processes - both biological and cultural - led to the current mosaic of human genetic and linguistic diversity? What demographic factors drive language diversification, diffusion, and extinction? How do migration, contact, and admixture impact our genomes and languages? To answer these questions, we apply and develop computational methods for demographic inference from modern and ancient DNA, integrating quantitative data from across disciplines (linguistics, archaeology, and anthropology).

Head of group: Sandra Oliveira

Research themes

• Human population structure across space and time
• Past migrations and the associated spread of languages, subsistence strategies, and adaptations
• The role of natural selection and cultural practices in shaping human genetic variation
• The impact of population size and connectivity on the evolution and diffusion of languages