Human Nose Shape and Climate Adaptation: A Genetic Investigation

A study published in PLOS Genetics investigates whether variations in human nose shape across populations are linked to climate adaptation. Researchers used Qst-Fst comparisons to analyze the genetic differentiation of nose shape traits and neutral markers. They found that nares width correlates with temperature and absolute humidity, suggesting that some aspects of nose shape may have been driven by local adaptation to climate. However, the study acknowledges that this is a simplified explanation, potentially involving other factors like sexual selection.