Evolutionary History and Health
We are researching how evolutionary processes—such as gene flow, selection and drift—shaped the biological diversity and health of Latin American populations. Our team has investigated the genetic factors involved in preeclampsia susceptibility among altitude-adapted Andeans, and pursued collaborative research characterizing signatures of selection in diverse Peruvian communities.
Our planned future work will investigate the role of local adaptation, admixture and pathogenic exchange in the evolutionary history of Latin American and Caribbean populations.
Select Relevant Publications
LocusZoom plot depicting top associated genetic variants in Andean preeclamptic cohort. From Nieves-Colón, et al. (2002). AJHG.
Caro-Consuegra R*, Nieves-Colón MA*, Rawls, E, Rubin-de-Celis V, Lizárraga B, Vidaurre T, Sandoval K, Fejerman L, Stone AC, Moreno-Estrada A, Bosch E. 2022. Uncovering signals of positive selection in Peruvian populations from three ecological regions. Molecular Biology and Evolution. 39(8): msac158
Belbin GM, Nieves-Colón MA, Kenny EE, Moreno-Estrada A, Gignoux CR. 2018. Genetic diversity in populations across Latin America: Implications for population and medical genetic studies. Current Opinions in Genetics and Development. 53:98-104.
Lab member contributions highlighted in bold text.
Nieves-Colón MA*, Badillo Rivera K*, Sandoval Mendoza K, Villanueva Dávalos V, Enriquez Lencinas LE, Mendoza-Revilla J, Adhikari K, González-Buenfil R, Chen JW, Zhang ET, Sockell A, Ortiz Tello P, Hurtado GM, Condori Salas R, Cebrecos R, Manzaneda Choque JC, Manzaneda Choque FP, Yábar Pilco GP, Rawls E, Eng C, Huntsman S, Gonzàlez Burchard E, Poletti G, Gallo C, Bustamante CD, Baker JC, Gignoux CR, Wojcik GL, Moreno-Estrada A. 2022. Clotting factor genes are associated with preeclampsia in high altitude pregnant women in the Peruvian Andes. American Journal of Human Genetics. 109(6): 1117-1139.