The human genome harbors a wide range of genetic variants, including single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs), insertions and deletions (indels), short tandem repeats, and copy number variations (CNVs) spanning over one kilobase in length. With recent advances in DNA sequencing technologies, we can now explore this diversity at the whole-genome level.

By analyzing genome-wide variation, we can infer key events in human evolutionary history—such as natural selection, population divergence, admixture, migration, and changes in population size—that our ancestors experienced. Although individual differences in human phenotypes arise from both genetic and environmental factors, investigating trait-associated variants enables us to evaluate their functional and evolutionary significance.

Our laboratory integrates fieldwork, experimental analyses of genomic diversity, and theoretical approaches—including statistical analysis, mathematical modeling, and computer simulation—to uncover the evolutionary history of humans and to better understand how genetic variation contributes to phenotypic diversity.