Bruce Lahn Genes Quotations

We want to know how broad a trend these two genes represent. Did we get really lucky and hit on two rare examples of such genes? Or, are they representative of many other such genes throughout the genome. I would bet, though, that we will find evidence of selection in a lot more genes.

If we look at multiple genes, the ethnic variations such as the ones we found are likely to be counterbalanced by other differences. Just because these genes are still evolving, doesn't necessarily mean they make you any smarter. We've evolved genes for selfishness, violence, cruelty ??- all of which are in place because they may make survival easier.

The jury is still out on what this means because we aren't entirely sure what these genes do. It's possible they just control size and shape of the brain, rather than cognition. But the data is pretty compelling that the brain is evolving.