Over on Gemæcce, my research blog, I’ve just posted “38% of English ancestry derived from Anglo-Saxon migration,” a piece about the new study of English ancestry in Nature Communications. The study has interesting implications. It’s made me more determined than ever to organise my thoughts on climate change, immigration, disease, and culture collapse.
Stay tuned.
Nicola Griffith 
So that in and of itself–the fact that the percentile of the Anglo Saxon cultural co-hort illustrates that this is not an accurate descriptor of the Englsh as Anglo Saxons as is often the case. How about percentage of Norman ancestry and this too as a descriptor is inaccurate as the Normans in their history have also Viking genes.One thing I know about European genetics is that genetically Europeans–whether Northern Southern or Western is that the most genetic variety will be found here. My friend a geneticist explained this to me as more information to provide me as to the prevalence of MS amongst Europeans and whilst fascinating it is of little consolation to the MS patient!
I hear you. I think the prevalence of MS among Europeans has a vast amount to do with sunlight and diet. Genes play a part, of course, but just a part.
Where we come from, where we are, where should/could we be by now. Evolution is, it appears, to be as slow as described. and like my thoughts slightly convoluted.
The thing about evolution is that there’s no could/should, there’s just is…
AH, Rich and Nicola, you strike the opposite chords within me. We know from a relative brief period of recorded pollution, (ie) nuclear radiation, chemical exposure, and food contamination, evolution can come very quickly, and Nicola “Just Is” can be mitigated. This deep stuff scares me !