The genomic evolution of primate craniofacial anatomy

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In primates, craniofacial variation provides fundamental cues for individual and species identification. Several genome-wide studies have identified variants that influence facial morphology in humans, including some variants with large effects. Beyond identifying variants that contribute to craniofacial diversity, these studies point to the genes that are responsible for different aspects of face morphology. Drawing from those studies, we will investigate the evolution of genes involved in craniofacial phenotypic variation in humans and other primates. This study will test whether face heterogeneity across individuals is adaptive, and whether species-specific craniofacial configurations are driven by natural selection.