In this study, we performed the first analysis of positive selection in North Africa. The LAD analysis did not reproduce any of the shared candidate genes for positive selection identified with the remaining tests. In the context of detecting positive selection in admixed populations, the reliability of the proxies chosen as source populations should also be carefully examined. In conclusion, in this first study of positive natural selection performed in North African populations, we were able to identify several candidate genomic regions for positive selection and characterise whether these adaptive signatures were private or shared with European and WEA populations. Thus, caution should be taken when interpreting shared signals of positive selection between NA and the European and WEA populations used as source populations for admixture.

Source: The North Africa Journal May 20, 2023 09:31 UTC