Evolutionary analysis of human prosociality: an approach based on the study of HPA axis related genes in informative ancient populations

Aldasoro-Zabala, Aloña (1); Hervella, Montse (2); De-la-Rúa, Concepción (3)

Publication year:

2024

Publication place:

Donostia

Characteristics:

BIBLID [0212-7016; eISSN: 2952-4180 (2024), 69, 2] - Reccep.: 2024-07-07 - Acept.: 2024-09-05

DOI:

http://doi.org/10.61879/riev692zkia202404

ISSN:

0212-7016; eISSN: 2952-4180

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Summary

An analysis of genetic variants (SNPs, Single Nucleotide Polymorphisms) related to behaviors that may have favored the social and biological adaptation of our species in the last ~40,000 years has been carried out. These genetic polymorphisms are related to behaviors regulated by the HPA (Hypothalamus-Pituitary-Adrenal) axis and have been analysed in a sample of human genomes collected from different paleogenomic s. The obtained results show the complexity of the "prosociality" phenotypes, detecting however the existence of possible temporal changes in the allelic frequencies of some genes, such as OXTR (Oxytocin Receptor), which can be related to the development of prosocial behaviors since the end of the Upper Palaeolithic.