Use well‑established, geographically patterned phenotypes (e.g., skin pigmentation north–south clines) as positive controls to test whether polygenic scores applied to ancient genomes recover expected spatial patterns before using them to infer novel historical selection on more contentious traits.
— If ancient PGS can be validated against known clines, claims about historical genetic change (including on politically fraught traits) gain empirical credibility and deserve public attention and cautious policy discussion.
Razib Khan
2025.12.01
45% relevant
The Pompeii dataset is another instance where methodological rigor in ancient genomics matters: analyses of Roman‑era genomes require the same validation safeguards (positive controls, spatiotemporal clines, provenance checks) urged by the 'Validate Ancient PGS' idea to avoid overinterpretation of population labels or trait inferences.
Davide Piffer
2025.12.01
100% relevant
Piffer applies a Pan‑UK Biobank multi‑ancestry skin‑colour GWAS to 86 modern populations and ancient genomes, showing the PGS reproduces modern latitudinal gradients and an Iron‑Age acceleration toward lighter skin.
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