Correlation of the COMT Val158Met polymorphism with latitude and a hunter-gather lifestyle suggests culture–gene coevolution and selective pressure on cognition genes due to climate

Abstract

Dual-inheritance theory posits that the genotype has an impact on the evolution of human behavior and that cultural traits can be constrained by genetic imperatives. A large body of studies provides evidence that the functional catechol-O-methyltransferase (COMT) Val158Met polymorphism is associated with executive function, working memory (WM), and intelligence. A survey of the population genetics database provides evidence that COMT gene frequencies vary across populations. The aim of the present study was to test the hypothesis that the COMT gene has an impact on cultural evolution, specifically on the adoption of an agricultural vs. a hunter-gatherer lifestyle. Statistically significant differences in COMT allele frequencies between hunter-gatherer and agricultural societies were found. Ethnic groups whose economy is based on farming have higher frequencies of the Met allele (symbol: A), whereas societies based on a hunter-gatherer economy have very low frequencies of the Met allele and a disproportionate predominance of the Val allele. Moreover, the frequency of the Met allele was positively correlated to the populations' IQ (r = 0.57). The FNBP1L gene (rs236330) is associated with childhood and adult intelligence and it varies in frequency across populations. Frequency of rs236330 was also significantly correlated with the populations' IQ (r = 0.81). COMT and FNBP1L had fairly similar geographical distributions (r = 0.44) although the result did not reach statistical significance. The results suggest that the genotype of a population influences its cultural development in fairly specific and predictable ways. Met allele frequency was positively correlated with latitude (r = 0.56), suggesting selective pressure due to climate.

Holocene selection for variants associated with cognitive ability: Comparing ancient and modern genomes

“…Increasing cultural complexity and technological sophistication among Holocene populations therefore likely arose in part from selection favouring GCA. Cultural and technological change can in turn create, via feedback, conditions favouring higher GCA (11,26). This process likely continued until the Late Modern Era, where it has been noted that among European populations living between the 15 th and early 19 th centuries, those with higher social status (which relates to GCA via common causal variants; 27) typically produced the most surviving offspring.…”

“…It must be noted however that meta-analyses reveal that the association is weak (ρ=0. 26), indicating that the majority of the variance in brain volume is unrelated to variance in GMA (34). Furthermore studies utilizing POLY COG have found that it does not predict variation in brain volume, despite both POLY COG and brain volume making independent contributions to GMA (35).…”

Heterosis in COMT Val158Met Polymorphism Contributes to Sex-Differences in Children’s Math Anxiety

“…The mutation Val158Met is an evolutionary novelty present in the human, but not in the gorilla, chimpanzee, bonobo, and orangutan (Piffer, 2013). Currently, the frequency of the Met allele is usually high (20–60%; Piffer, 2013) in most of the populations reported so far. This is surprising, considering that the enzyme activity is importantly reduced by the Met allele.…”

“…Notwithstanding its limitations, the present study adds important information to the knowledge of the neurogenetic underpinnings of MA: (a) a thorough understanding of the origins of MA requires considerations of both environmental and genetic factors; (b) the dopaminergic system, a multifunctional system especially important in human evolution (Previc, 2009; Piffer, 2013), is also relevant for clarifying the neurobiological underpinnings of MA; (c) testing for associations between psychological phenotypes and single-loci genetic markers should consider all possible genetic models (dominance, codominance, and heterosis); and (d) sex differences in MA associated with the COMT Val158Met polymorphism are detectable even before puberty. Sex differences in the effect of Val158Met polymorphism in prepubertal children have already been described for cognitive functions (Barnett et al, 2007).…”

Ancient DNA Reveals That the Variability of the DRD4 -521 C/T SNP Associated with Novelty Seeking Behavior is Influenced by Selection in Western South American Populations

“…The obviously low sample size of our study also might have biased the results of the comparison due to lack of sensitivity. Associations between climate and economy have been found for the Val158Met polymorphism in the COMT gene recently suggesting that future studies trying to test this hypothesis should expand the number of genetic markers studied (Piffer 2013).…”