From Newsgroup: talk.origins

https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2025/08/250814094648.htm

Some researcher were looking at HAR sequences in the human genome. HAR sequences are regions of the genome that have a higher than expected
number of polymorphisms compared to our other ape relatives. These
regions accumulated mutations at a higher rate than other regions of the genome. When a mutation gets selected against it actually reduces the frequency of other linked mutations closely linked to it because that
region of the genome is now selected against and is removed from the population. If a mutation is selected for it also increases the allele frequency of the surrounding mutations that are closely linked to it in
the population. Regions under positive selection should show a higher
rate of sequence variation than regions not under positive selection.

This HAR sequence (HAR123) has a transcription enhancer sequence in it.
This enhancer region has been changed in humans to up regulate genes associated with brain development. The claim is that this is one of the regulatory sequences that makes us human.

Ron Okimoto

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