Tracing Evolutionary Paths: The Role of Hair and Skin Phenotyping

Monday, Feb. 12, 2024 (2 PM – 3:30 PM)

Tina Lasisi

University of Michigan

This talk covers our understanding of human evolution through the study of hair and skin phenotypes. Conventional classification approaches have limited our insights into the evolution of hair. The development of cutting-edge high-throughput phenotyping methods is now unveiling the extensive diversity in scalp hair morphology and its genetic underpinnings. By contrasting the progress in skin phenotyping with the untapped prospects in hair research, this presentation will underscore the crucial role of measurement in associating phenotypes with genetic variation and in illuminating the evolutionary history of these human traits.