Ten‑Millennia Selection Reshapes Traits

A new large ancient‑DNA study documents widespread directional selection in West Eurasia over the last ~10,000 years, affecting many loci and traits; these shifts mean contemporary genetic differences are the product of recent evolutionary change, not just deep prehistory. Razib Khan frames the Nature paper for a general audience and connects the data to broader debates about polygenic scores and ancestry. — If recent selection has materially altered trait‑related allele frequencies, that changes how policymakers, journalists, and the public should interpret genetic studies, claims about 'race', and the limits of using polygenic scores in social contexts.