Sunday, November 14, 2021

Rice farming in China had effects on polygenic scores for height, body mass index, depression, time discounting, reproduction, educational attainment, risk preference, alcohol metabolism capacity

Relationship between rice farming and polygenic scores potentially linked to agriculture in China. Chen Zhu et al. Royal Society Open Science, August 18 2021. https://doi.org/10.1098/rsos.210382

Abstract: Following domestication in the lower Yangtze River valley 9400 years ago, rice farming spread throughout China and changed lifestyle patterns among Neolithic populations. Here, we report evidence that the advent of rice domestication and cultivation may have shaped humans not only culturally but also genetically. Leveraging recent findings from molecular genetics, we construct a number of polygenic scores (PGSs) of behavioural traits and examine their associations with rice cultivation based on a sample of 4101 individuals recently collected from mainland China. A total of nine polygenic traits and genotypes are investigated in this study, including PGSs of height, body mass index, depression, time discounting, reproduction, educational attainment, risk preference, ADH1B rs1229984 and ALDH2 rs671. Two-stage least-squares estimates of the county-level percentage of cultivated land devoted to paddy rice on the PGS of age at first birth (b = −0.029, p = 0.021) and ALDH2 rs671 (b = 0.182, p < 0.001) are both statistically significant and robust to a wide range of potential confounds and alternative explanations. These findings imply that rice farming may influence human evolution in relatively recent human history.

3. Discussion

In sum, genetic data from over 4000 people across China produced evidence that genes for earlier reproduction and alcohol flush response were more common among people from areas with more historical rice farming. Rice farming was negatively associated with PGSs for educational attainment, although this relationship became marginal after controlling for the history of herding.

The effect of rice remained robust after controlling for individual demographic characteristics, ethnic make-up, a range of regional characteristics and potential self-selection into rice farming. Moreover, the large sample size of counties substantially increases statistical power and allows for greater control over confounding factors in the analysis. The results of this study suggest that a major cultural transition in human history had small but detectable effects on genes.

Researchers used to believe that evolution worked so slowly that meaningful changes were unlikely to have happened in the last 10 000 years of human history. But more recently, researchers have concluded that ‘evolutionary change typically occurs much faster than people used to think’. There is also evidence that human evolution actually sped up in the last 40 000 years [49]. If rice domestication selected for particular genes, it would fit with this emerging picture of relatively recent human evolution.

We should note several limitations in our data that point to possible future improvements. (i) The current study is based on a sample of 4101 observations, which may lack statistical power due to the small sample size. (ii) The GWAS summary statistics used to construct the PGSs in this study were mostly based on samples of European ancestry, which may lead to a Euro-centric bias and limit the predictive power constructed PGSs [14].4 (iii) Identifying regional ancestry through the place of birth is not perfect. This method may misidentify people whose recent ancestors moved large distances. (iv) We analysed genetic differences but not phenotypes or actual behaviour. Genetic propensities are not destiny. (v) We do not have DNA samples from historical periods (e.g. ancient DNA). If future researchers gain access to historical DNA samples, this will allow for a directly test or completely rule out of the reverse causality issue.

It is worth remembering that environment is not destiny, either. It would be overly simplistic to expect that exact same pattern of results everywhere people grow rice. There is ample evidence that the same type of environment does not always lead to the same culture. As one small example, how farmers dealt with peak labour demands in rice differed across cultures. While Chinese farmers preferred to trade labour with family members, West African rice farmers sometimes relied on groups of youths, who would move from farm to farm. Rice presents common challenges, but cultures' solutions to those challenges (and the genetic selection pressures that come along) may differ.

Finally, the finding of rice–wheat genetic differences presents a hint about a puzzle of modernization. As fewer and fewer people are farming in China, how is it that rice–wheat differences persist in modern China? Studies have found rice–wheat differences among people who do not farm [8,9]. Genetic differences present one possible mechanism—but surely not the only mechanism—through which historical differences in subsistence style live on in the present day.

Urbanicity is a growing environmental challenge for mental health; here, we investigate correlations of urbanicity with brain structure and function, neuropsychology & mental illness symptoms in young people from China & Europe

Global urbanicity is associated with brain and behaviour in young people. Jiayuan Xu et al, & CHIMGEN and IMAGEN Consortia. Nature Human Behaviour, Oct 28 2021. https://www.nature.com/articles/s41562-021-01204-7

Abstract: Urbanicity is a growing environmental challenge for mental health. Here, we investigate correlations of urbanicity with brain structure and function, neuropsychology and mental illness symptoms in young people from China and Europe (total n = 3,867). We developed a remote-sensing satellite measure (UrbanSat) to quantify population density at any point on Earth. UrbanSat estimates of urbanicity were correlated with brain volume, cortical surface area and brain network connectivity in the medial prefrontal cortex and cerebellum. UrbanSat was also associated with perspective-taking and depression symptoms, and this was mediated by neural variables. Urbanicity effects were greatest when urban exposure occurred in childhood for the cerebellum, and from childhood to adolescence for the prefrontal cortex. As UrbanSat can be generalized to different geographies, it may enable assessments of correlations of urbanicity with mental illness and resilience globally.


Women: Greater pleasure (autonomous) motives related to higher sexual assertiveness, which in turn related to higher orgasmic function in casual sex; greater insecurity (nonautonomous) motives related to lower sexual assertiveness

It’s The “Why”: Links between (Non)autonomous Sexual Motives, Sexual Assertiveness, and Women’s Orgasm in Casual Sex. Val Wongsomboon, Gregory D. Webster & Mary H. Burleson. Archives of Sexual Behavior, Nov 11 2021. https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007%2Fs10508-021-02103-8

Abstract: Existing literature shows conflicting and inconclusive evidence regarding women’s sexual experiences in casual sex. Some studies have found negative sexual outcomes (e.g., fewer orgasms), while others have found positive sexual outcomes (e.g., more orgasms, higher sexual satisfaction) when women had casual sex. According to self-determination theory (Deci & Ryan, 1985), people’s needs are fulfilled when their choice and behavior are self-motivated and reflect their intrinsic values. We hypothesized that women’s autonomous motivation to have casual sex would be associated with higher orgasmic function, whereas nonautonomous motivation would be associated with lower orgasmic function in casual sex. We also hypothesized that sexual assertiveness would mediate the relationship between sexual motives and orgasmic function in casual sex. Participants in this study were women (N = 401) aged 18–59 years who reported having had casual sex in the past 12 months. Participants completed an online survey reporting their motives to have casual sex, sexual assertiveness, and orgasmic function (e.g., orgasm frequency, satisfaction with orgasm) in casual sex. We focused on two motives: (a) pleasure motive and (b) insecurity (i.e., self-esteem boost and pressure) motive. Results showed that greater pleasure (autonomous) motives related to higher sexual assertiveness, which in turn related to higher orgasmic function in casual sex. In contrast, greater insecurity (nonautonomous) motives related to lower sexual assertiveness, which in turn related to lower orgasmic function in casual sex. The findings support self-determination theory, suggesting that autonomous motives are important for women’s sexual experience in casual sex.



Facial feminization surgery had success in achieving goals of minimizing mis-gendering in public (appropriately identifying trans-women as female), & reduction in dysphoric feelings (improved patient satisfaction)

Facial Feminization Surgery Review: Diagnosis, Preoperative Planning, Surgical Techniques, and Outcomes. Joshua Choe et al. Face, November 10, 2021. https://doi.org/10.1177/27325016211057299

Abstract: Facial Feminization Surgery (FFS) broadly encompasses a series of surgical procedures offered by craniomaxillofacial surgeons designed to modify facial features and transform both skeletal and soft tissues to create a more feminine appearance. Techniques, initially pioneered by Dr. Douglas Ousterhout, have been modified to include preoperative virtual planning and evolving aesthetic preferences. Computed Tomography (CT) imaging assists with morphologic typing of the brow, supraorbital, chin, and lateral mandible regions. Advancements in instrumentation increase the efficiency and accuracy of FFS procedures. More recently, trends in transgender acceptance have led to improved insurance authorization for FFS procedures. Objective outcome studies have shown success in achieving goals of (1) minimizing mis-gendering in public (appropriately identifying trans-women as female) and (2) reduction in dysphoric feelings (improved patient satisfaction).

Keywords: facial feminization surgery, FFS, transgender surgery, gender dysphoria, virtual surgical planning, facial features


Apis cerana workers apply materials (i.e. animal faeces in Vietnam, plant material in Japan) around nest entrances to repel giant hornets

Giant hornet (Vespa soror) attacks trigger frenetic antipredator signalling in honeybee (Apis cerana) colonies. Heather R. Mattila et al. Royal Society Open Science, November 10 2021. https://doi.org/10.1098/rsos.211215

Abstract: Asian honeybees use an impressive array of strategies to protect nests from hornet attacks, although little is understood about how antipredator signals coordinate defences. We compared vibroacoustic signalling and defensive responses of Apis cerana colonies that were attacked by either the group-hunting giant hornet Vespa soror or the smaller, solitary-hunting hornet Vespa velutina. Apis cerana colonies produced hisses, brief stop signals and longer pipes under hornet-free conditions. However, hornet-attack stimuli—and V. soror workers in particular—triggered dramatic increases in signalling rates within colonies. Soundscapes were cacophonous when V. soror predators were directly outside of nests, in part because of frenetic production of antipredator pipes, a previously undescribed signal. Antipredator pipes share acoustic traits with alarm shrieks, fear screams and panic calls of primates, birds and meerkats. Workers making antipredator pipes exposed their Nasonov gland, suggesting the potential for multimodal alarm signalling that warns nestmates about the presence of dangerous hornets and assembles workers for defence. Concurrent observations of nest entrances showed an increase in worker activities that support effective defences against giant hornets. Apis cerana workers flexibly employ a diverse alarm repertoire in response to attack attributes, mirroring features of sophisticated alarm calling in socially complex vertebrates.


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This study explores the signalling repertoire of A. cerana during naturally occurring attacks by two hornet predators that differ in the degree of threat they pose to colonies. At our study site in Vietnam, the deadliest hornet predator that A. cerana encounters is Vespa soror, a giant hornet that can decimate honeybee colonies through group predation [81,82]. A successful attack starts when a V. soror scout recruits nestmates to a prey colony, where together they kill many of the defending honeybees, occupy their nest and harvest undefended brood to feed their larvae. Vespa soror is not well studied, but it is morphologically and behaviourally similar to its better-known sister species, the giant hornet Vespa mandarinia [70,71,81–87]. By contrast to the two species of giant hornets, Vespa velutina is a smaller hornet that hunts solitarily by hawking individual honeybees while hovering in front of nests [72]. In the evolutionary arms race between predator and prey, A. cerana has evolved several colony-level defences to fend off hornet attacks. They often aggregate at the nest entrance as a first step [70,88,89], referred to as a ‘bee carpet’ in A. mellifera [90–93]. Once amassed, workers can engulf an individual hornet in a ball of hundreds of bees, simultaneously overheating and asphyxiating it [89,94–96]. Apis cerana workers apply materials (i.e. animal faeces in Vietnam, plant material in Japan) around nest entrances to repel giant hornets, a defensive behaviour that is not triggered by smaller hornets [82,97]. Groups of workers also perform coordinated body shaking in response to hornets, a visually intimidating display that deters attackers from approaching the nest [77,98–101].


Individuals recognize their lifestyle is more unsustainable than what is generally acceptable, yet they consider the lifestyle of others to be even more harmful; there are compensatory green beliefs on the biases in the estimated environmental impacts

Biased perception of the environmental impact of everyday behaviors. Laura Pasca & LucĂ­a Poggio. The Journal of Social Psychology, Nov 12 2021. https://doi.org/10.1080/00224545.2021.2000354

Abstract: Despite our concern about climate change, certain psychological barriers hinder the adoption of a pro-environmental lifestyle. In the present study (n = 186), we analyzed the participants’ estimates of the environmental impact of their lifestyles, compared to their moral standards and the perceived normative impact. Results show that individuals recognize their lifestyle is more unsustainable than what is generally acceptable, yet they consider the lifestyle of others to be even more harmful. Furthermore, we studied the role of compensatory green beliefs on the biases in the estimated environmental impacts. The results showed that individuals tend to consider that pro-environmental behaviors have a neutral environmental impact. Thus, our research suggests the existence of a bias in individuals’ perception of environmental impacts.

Keywords: Environmental impactmoral licensingclimate changecompensatory green beliefssocial norms