Farming Didn’t Slow Human Evolution — It Sped It Up

Recent genomic analyses estimate that the rate at which new genetic variants rose in frequency sped up dramatically during and after the shift from hunter‑gatherer to agricultural societies. The paper argues culture (new diets, settlement, social organization) created novel selection environments, so cultural innovation increased, rather than decreased, the need for genetic adaptation. — Recasts debates about nature vs. nurture by showing culture and genes interact dynamically, with implications for public health, ancestry interpretation, and social theory.