0 Votes

Changes for page Research at a Glance

Last modified by Ryan C on 2025/06/26 03:09

From version 74.1
edited by Ryan C
on 2025/03/16 05:23
Change comment: There is no comment for this version
To version 75.1
edited by Ryan C
on 2025/03/16 05:27
Change comment: There is no comment for this version

Summary

Details

Page properties
Content
... ... @@ -1951,3 +1951,249 @@
1951 1951  
1952 1952  {{html}}<hr style="border: 3px solid red;">{{/html}}
1953 1953  
1954 +{{expand title="Study: Pervasive Findings of Directional Selection in Ancient DNA" expanded="false"}}
1955 +**Source:** *bioRxiv Preprint*
1956 +**Date of Publication:** *September 15, 2024*
1957 +**Author(s):** *Ali Akbari, Alison R. Barton, Steven Gazal, Zheng Li, Mohammadreza Kariminejad, et al.*
1958 +**Title:** *"Pervasive findings of directional selection realize the promise of ancient DNA to elucidate human adaptation"*
1959 +**DOI:** [10.1101/2024.09.14.613021](https://doi.org/10.1101/2024.09.14.613021)
1960 +**Subject Matter:** *Genomics, Evolutionary Biology, Natural Selection*
1961 +
1962 +---
1963 +
1964 +## **Key Statistics**
1965 +1. **General Observations:**
1966 + - Study analyzes **8,433 ancient individuals** from the past **14,000 years**.
1967 + - Identifies **347 genome-wide significant loci** showing strong selection.
1968 +
1969 +2. **Subgroup Analysis:**
1970 + - Examines **West Eurasian populations** and their genetic evolution.
1971 + - Tracks **changes in allele frequencies over millennia**.
1972 +
1973 +3. **Other Significant Data Points:**
1974 + - **10,000 years of directional selection** affected metabolic, immune, and cognitive traits.
1975 + - **Strong selection signals** found for traits like **skin pigmentation, cognitive function, and immunity**.
1976 +
1977 +---
1978 +
1979 +## **Findings**
1980 +1. **Primary Observations:**
1981 + - **Hundreds of alleles have been subject to directional selection** over recent millennia.
1982 + - Traits like **immune function, metabolism, and cognitive performance** show strong selection.
1983 +
1984 +2. **Subgroup Trends:**
1985 + - Selection pressure on **energy storage genes** supports the **Thrifty Gene Hypothesis**.
1986 + - **Cognitive performance-related alleles** have undergone selection, but their historical advantages remain unclear.
1987 +
1988 +3. **Specific Case Analysis:**
1989 + - **Celiac disease risk allele** increased from **0% to 20%** in 4,000 years.
1990 + - **Blood type B frequency rose from 0% to 8% in 6,000 years**.
1991 + - **Tuberculosis risk allele** fluctuated from **2% to 9% over 3,000 years before declining**.
1992 +
1993 +---
1994 +
1995 +## **Critique and Observations**
1996 +1. **Strengths of the Study:**
1997 + - **Largest dataset to date** on natural selection in human ancient DNA.
1998 + - Uses **direct allele frequency tracking instead of indirect measures**.
1999 +
2000 +2. **Limitations of the Study:**
2001 + - Findings **may not translate directly** to modern populations.
2002 + - **Unclear whether observed selection pressures persist today**.
2003 +
2004 +3. **Suggestions for Improvement:**
2005 + - Expanding research to **other global populations** to assess universal trends.
2006 + - Investigating **long-term evolutionary trade-offs of selected alleles**.
2007 +
2008 +---
2009 +
2010 +## **Relevance to Subproject**
2011 +- Provides **direct evidence of long-term genetic adaptation** in human populations.
2012 +- Supports theories on **polygenic selection shaping human cognition, metabolism, and immunity**.
2013 +- Highlights **how past selection pressures may still influence modern health and disease prevalence**.
2014 +
2015 +---
2016 +
2017 +## **Suggestions for Further Exploration**
2018 +1. Examine **selection patterns in non-European populations** for comparison.
2019 +2. Investigate **how environmental and cultural shifts influenced genetic selection**.
2020 +3. Explore **the genetic basis of traits linked to past and present-day human survival**.
2021 +
2022 +---
2023 +
2024 +## **Summary of Research Study**
2025 +This study examines **how human genetic adaptation has unfolded over 14,000 years**, using a **large dataset of ancient DNA**. It highlights **strong selection on immune function, metabolism, and cognitive traits**, revealing **hundreds of loci affected by directional selection**. The findings emphasize **the power of ancient DNA in tracking human evolution and adaptation**.
2026 +
2027 +---
2028 +
2029 +## **📄 Download Full Study**
2030 +[[Download Full Study>>attach:10.1101_2024.09.14.613021doi_.pdf]]
2031 +
2032 +{{/expand}}
2033 +
2034 +{{html}}<hr style="border: 3px solid red;">{{/html}}
2035 +
2036 +{{expand title="Study: Biracial Couples and Adverse Birth Outcomes – A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis" expanded="false"}}
2037 +**Source:** *Acta Obstetricia et Gynecologica Scandinavica*
2038 +**Date of Publication:** *2012*
2039 +**Author(s):** *Ravisha M. Srinivasjois, Shreya Shah, Prakesh S. Shah, Knowledge Synthesis Group on Determinants of Preterm/LBW Births*
2040 +**Title:** *"Biracial Couples and Adverse Birth Outcomes: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis"*
2041 +**DOI:** [10.1111/j.1600-0412.2012.01501.x](https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1600-0412.2012.01501.x)
2042 +**Subject Matter:** *Neonatal Health, Maternal-Fetal Medicine, Racial Disparities*
2043 +
2044 +---
2045 +
2046 +## **Key Statistics**
2047 +1. **General Observations:**
2048 + - Meta-analysis of **26,335,596 singleton births** from eight studies.
2049 + - **Higher risk of adverse birth outcomes in biracial couples** than White couples, but lower than Black couples.
2050 +
2051 +2. **Subgroup Analysis:**
2052 + - **Maternal race had a stronger influence than paternal race** on birth outcomes.
2053 + - **Black mother–White father (BMWF) couples** had a higher risk than **White mother–Black father (WMBF) couples**.
2054 +
2055 +3. **Other Significant Data Points:**
2056 + - **Adjusted Odds Ratios (aORs) for key outcomes:**
2057 + - **Low birthweight (LBW):** WMBF (1.21), BMWF (1.75), Black mother–Black father (BMBF) (2.08).
2058 + - **Preterm births (PTB):** WMBF (1.17), BMWF (1.37), BMBF (1.78).
2059 + - **Stillbirths:** WMBF (1.43), BMWF (1.51), BMBF (1.85).
2060 +
2061 +---
2062 +
2063 +## **Findings**
2064 +1. **Primary Observations:**
2065 + - **Biracial couples face a gradient of risk**: higher than White couples but lower than Black couples.
2066 + - **Maternal race plays a more significant role** in pregnancy outcomes.
2067 +
2068 +2. **Subgroup Trends:**
2069 + - **Black mothers (regardless of paternal race) had the highest risk of LBW and PTB**.
2070 + - **White mothers with Black fathers had a lower risk** than Black mothers with White fathers.
2071 +
2072 +3. **Specific Case Analysis:**
2073 + - The **weathering hypothesis** suggests that **long-term stress exposure** contributes to higher adverse birth risks in Black mothers.
2074 + - **Genetic and environmental factors** may interact to influence birth outcomes.
2075 +
2076 +---
2077 +
2078 +## **Critique and Observations**
2079 +1. **Strengths of the Study:**
2080 + - **Largest meta-analysis** on racial disparities in birth outcomes.
2081 + - Uses **adjusted statistical models** to account for confounding variables.
2082 +
2083 +2. **Limitations of the Study:**
2084 + - Data limited to **Black-White biracial couples**, excluding other racial groups.
2085 + - **Socioeconomic and healthcare access factors** not fully explored.
2086 +
2087 +3. **Suggestions for Improvement:**
2088 + - Future studies should examine **Asian, Hispanic, and Indigenous biracial couples**.
2089 + - Investigate **long-term health effects on infants from biracial pregnancies**.
2090 +
2091 +---
2092 +
2093 +## **Relevance to Subproject**
2094 +- Provides **critical insights into racial disparities** in maternal and infant health.
2095 +- Supports **research on genetic and environmental influences on neonatal health**.
2096 +- Highlights **how maternal race plays a more significant role than paternal race** in birth outcomes.
2097 +
2098 +---
2099 +
2100 +## **Suggestions for Further Exploration**
2101 +1. Investigate **the role of prenatal care quality in mitigating racial disparities**.
2102 +2. Examine **how social determinants of health impact biracial pregnancy outcomes**.
2103 +3. Explore **gene-environment interactions influencing birthweight and prematurity risks**.
2104 +
2105 +---
2106 +
2107 +## **Summary of Research Study**
2108 +This meta-analysis examines **the impact of biracial parentage on birth outcomes**, showing that **biracial couples face a higher risk of adverse pregnancy outcomes than White couples but lower than Black couples**. The findings emphasize **maternal race as a key factor in birth risks**, with **Black mothers having the highest rates of preterm birth and low birthweight, regardless of paternal race**.
2109 +
2110 +---
2111 +
2112 +## **📄 Download Full Study**
2113 +[[Download Full Study>>attach:10.1111_j.1600-0412.2012.01501.xAbstract.pdf]]
2114 +
2115 +{{/expand}}
2116 +
2117 +{{html}}<hr style="border: 3px solid red;">{{/html}}
2118 +
2119 +{{expand title="Study: Equality, Morality, and the Impact of Media Framing on Same-Sex Marriage and Civil Unions" expanded="false"}}
2120 +**Source:** *Politics & Policy*
2121 +**Date of Publication:** *2007*
2122 +**Author(s):** *Tyler Johnson*
2123 +**Title:** *"Equality, Morality, and the Impact of Media Framing: Explaining Opposition to Same-Sex Marriage and Civil Unions"*
2124 +**DOI:** [10.1111/j.1747-1346.2007.00092.x](https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1747-1346.2007.00092.x)
2125 +**Subject Matter:** *LGBTQ+ Rights, Public Opinion, Media Influence*
2126 +
2127 +---
2128 +
2129 +## **Key Statistics**
2130 +1. **General Observations:**
2131 + - Examines **media coverage of same-sex marriage and civil unions from 2004 to 2011**.
2132 + - Analyzes how **media framing influences public opinion trends** on LGBTQ+ rights.
2133 +
2134 +2. **Subgroup Analysis:**
2135 + - **Equality-based framing decreases opposition** to same-sex marriage.
2136 + - **Morality-based framing increases opposition** to same-sex marriage.
2137 +
2138 +3. **Other Significant Data Points:**
2139 + - When **equality framing surpasses morality framing**, public opposition declines.
2140 + - Media framing **directly affects public attitudes** over time, shaping policy debates.
2141 +
2142 +---
2143 +
2144 +## **Findings**
2145 +1. **Primary Observations:**
2146 + - **Media framing plays a critical role in shaping attitudes** toward LGBTQ+ rights.
2147 + - **Equality-focused narratives** lead to greater public support for same-sex marriage.
2148 +
2149 +2. **Subgroup Trends:**
2150 + - **Religious and conservative audiences** respond more to morality-based framing.
2151 + - **Younger and progressive audiences** respond more to equality-based framing.
2152 +
2153 +3. **Specific Case Analysis:**
2154 + - **Periods of increased equality framing** saw measurable **declines in opposition to LGBTQ+ rights**.
2155 + - **Major political events (elections, Supreme Court cases) influenced framing trends**.
2156 +
2157 +---
2158 +
2159 +## **Critique and Observations**
2160 +1. **Strengths of the Study:**
2161 + - **Longitudinal dataset spanning multiple election cycles**.
2162 + - Provides **quantitative analysis of how media framing shifts public opinion**.
2163 +
2164 +2. **Limitations of the Study:**
2165 + - Focuses **only on U.S. media coverage**, limiting global applicability.
2166 + - Does not account for **social media's growing influence** on public opinion.
2167 +
2168 +3. **Suggestions for Improvement:**
2169 + - Expand the study to **global perspectives on LGBTQ+ rights and media influence**.
2170 + - Investigate how **different media platforms (TV vs. digital media) impact opinion shifts**.
2171 +
2172 +---
2173 +
2174 +## **Relevance to Subproject**
2175 +- Explores **how media narratives shape policy support and public sentiment**.
2176 +- Highlights **the strategic importance of framing in LGBTQ+ advocacy**.
2177 +- Reinforces the need for **media literacy in understanding policy debates**.
2178 +
2179 +---
2180 +
2181 +## **Suggestions for Further Exploration**
2182 +1. Examine how **social media affects framing of LGBTQ+ issues**.
2183 +2. Study **differences in framing across political media outlets**.
2184 +3. Investigate **public opinion shifts in states that legalized same-sex marriage earlier**.
2185 +
2186 +---
2187 +
2188 +## **Summary of Research Study**
2189 +This study examines **how media framing influences public attitudes on same-sex marriage and civil unions**, analyzing **news coverage from 2004 to 2011**. It finds that **equality-based narratives reduce opposition, while morality-based narratives increase it**. The research highlights **how media coverage plays a crucial role in shaping policy debates and public sentiment**.
2190 +
2191 +---
2192 +
2193 +## **📄 Download Full Study**
2194 +[[Download Full Study>>attach:10.1111_j.1747-1346.2007.00092.x_abstract.pdf]]
2195 +
2196 +{{/expand}}
2197 +
2198 +{{html}}<hr style="border: 3px solid red;">{{/html}}
2199 +