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Department of Archaeology

 

Dr Guy Jacobs - on Research Leave for Michaelmas and Lent Terms 2024/25

Biography

My research uses population genetics to better understand human evolutionary history, including adaptation, genetic demography and archaic introgression. I am interested in how large-scale patterns of genetic variation, over countries and continents, are impacted by local social behaviours such as kinship practices, migration and movement decisions, and social hierarchies. I combine modelling and simulation with information from human genetics and other sources (linguistics, movement ecology, ancient DNA, domesticate genetics and the microbiome) to better understand these processes. My work has a regional focus in South Asia and islands in Southeast Asia.

I will be on Research Leave for Michaelmas and Lent terms 2024/25.

Research

  • Human evolutionary genetics
  • Social behaviour and genetic diversity
  • Non-human genetics and the microbiome
  • Hunter-gatherer genetic variation

 

Ongoing and past research projects:

  • 2021-2026: MOBILE: Movement networks and genetic evolution among tropical hunter-gatherers of island Southeast Asia (PI, ERC Starting Grant)
  • 2019-2021: Pilot study of Cave Punan hunter-gatherers of Borneo (with Prof. Steve Lansing and Dr Pradiptajati Kusuma)
  • 2018-2020: Borneo Human Genome and Microbiome Diversity in Association with Health and Disease (with the Eijkman Institute for Molecular Biology)
  • 2018-2020: Archaic introgression and the evolution of modern humans (NTU Presidential Postdoctoral Fellowship)
  • 2016-2019: The Indonesian Genome Diversity Project (with the Eijkman Institute for Molecular Biology)

 

Publication

Journal articles

2023 (Accepted for publication)

  • Kusuma, P., Cox, M., Barker, G., Sudoyo, H., Lansing, JS. and Jacobs, G., 2023 (Accepted for publication). Deep ancestry of Bornean hunter-gatherers supports long-term local ancestry dynamics Cell Reports,
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    2023

  • Lansing, JS., Kremer, JN., Suryawan, IBG., Sathiakumar, S., Jacobs, GS., Chung, NN. and Artha Wiguna, IWA., 2023. Adaptive irrigation management by Balinese farmers reduces greenhouse gas emissions and increases rice yields. Philos Trans R Soc Lond B Biol Sci, v. 378
    Doi: http://doi.org/10.1098/rstb.2022.0400
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    2022 (Accepted for publication)

  • Lansing, JS., Jacobs, GS., Downey, SS., Norquest, PK., Cox, MP., Kuhn, SL., Miller, JH., Malik, SG., Sudoyo, H. and Kusuma, P., 2022 (Accepted for publication). Deep ancestry of collapsing networks of nomadic hunter-gatherers in Borneo Evolutionary Human Sciences, v. 4
    Doi: http://doi.org/10.1017/ehs.2022.3
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    2022

  • Natri, HM., Hudjashov, G., Jacobs, G., Kusuma, P., Saag, L., Darusallam, CC., Metspalu, M., Sudoyo, H., Cox, MP., Gallego Romero, I. and Banovich, NE., 2022. Genetic architecture of gene regulation in Indonesian populations identifies QTLs associated with global and local ancestries. Am J Hum Genet, v. 109
    Doi: http://doi.org/10.1016/j.ajhg.2021.11.017
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  • Vespasiani, DM., Jacobs, GS., Cook, LE., Brucato, N., Leavesley, M., Kinipi, C., Ricaut, F-X., Cox, MP. and Gallego Romero, I., 2022. Denisovan introgression has shaped the immune system of present-day Papuans. PLoS Genet, v. 18
    Doi: http://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pgen.1010470
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    2021

  • Teixeira, JC., Jacobs, GS., Stringer, C., Tuke, J., Hudjashov, G., Purnomo, GA., Sudoyo, H., Cox, MP., Tobler, R., Turney, CSM., Cooper, A. and Helgen, KM., 2021. Widespread Denisovan ancestry in Island Southeast Asia but no evidence of substantial super-archaic hominin admixture. Nat Ecol Evol, v. 5
    Doi: http://doi.org/10.1038/s41559-021-01408-0
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  • Lansing, JS., Chung, NN., Chew, LY. and Jacobs, GS., 2021. Averting evolutionary suicide from the tragedy of the commons International Journal of the Commons, v. 15
    Doi: http://doi.org/10.5334/IJC.1118
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    2020

  • Natri, HM., Bobowik, KS., Kusuma, P., Crenna Darusallam, C., Jacobs, GS., Hudjashov, G., Lansing, JS., Sudoyo, H., Banovich, NE., Cox, MP. and Gallego Romero, I., 2020. Genome-wide DNA methylation and gene expression patterns reflect genetic ancestry and environmental differences across the Indonesian archipelago. PLoS Genet, v. 16
    Doi: http://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pgen.1008749
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  • Rai, N., Verma, SK., Gaur, A., Iliescu, FM., Thakur, M., Golla, TR., Chandra, K., Prakash, S., Tabasum, W., Ara, S., Singh, L., Thangaraj, K. and Jacobs, GS., 2020. Ancient mtDNA from the extinct Indian cheetah supports unexpectedly deep divergence from African cheetahs. Sci Rep, v. 10
    Doi: http://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-020-60751-7
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  • Riddell, J., Basu Mallick, C., Jacobs, GS., Schoenebeck, JJ. and Headon, DJ., 2020. Characterisation of a second gain of function EDAR variant, encoding EDAR380R, in East Asia. Eur J Hum Genet, v. 28
    Doi: http://doi.org/10.1038/s41431-020-0660-6
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    2019

  • Jacobs, GS., Hudjashov, G., Saag, L., Kusuma, P., Darusallam, CC., Lawson, DJ., Mondal, M., Pagani, L., Ricaut, F-X., Stoneking, M., Metspalu, M., Sudoyo, H., Lansing, JS. and Cox, MP., 2019. Multiple Deeply Divergent Denisovan Ancestries in Papuans Cell, v. 177
    Doi: http://doi.org/10.1016/j.cell.2019.02.035
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  • Chung, NN., Jacobs, GS., Sudoyo, H., Malik, SG., Chew, LY., Lansing, JS. and Cox, MP., 2019. Sex-linked genetic diversity originates from persistent sociocultural processes at microgeographic scales. R Soc Open Sci, v. 6
    Doi: http://doi.org/10.1098/rsos.190733
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    2018

  • Iliescu, FM., Chaplin, G., Rai, N., Jacobs, GS., Basu Mallick, C., Mishra, A., Thangaraj, K. and Jablonski, NG., 2018. The influences of genes, the environment, and social factors on the evolution of skin color diversity in India. Am J Hum Biol, v. 30
    Doi: http://doi.org/10.1002/ajhb.23170
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    2017

  • Eichstaedt, CA., Pagani, L., Antao, T., Inchley, CE., Cardona, A., Mörseburg, A., Clemente, FJ., Sluckin, TJ., Metspalu, E., Mitt, M., Mägi, R., Hudjashov, G., Metspalu, M., Mormina, M., Jacobs, GS. and Kivisild, T., 2017. Evidence of Early-Stage Selection on EPAS1 and GPR126 Genes in Andean High Altitude Populations. Sci Rep, v. 7
    Doi: http://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-017-13382-4
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  • Lansing, JS., Abundo, C., Jacobs, GS., Guillot, EG., Thurner, S., Downey, SS., Chew, LY., Bhattacharya, T., Chung, NN., Sudoyo, H. and Cox, MP., 2017. Kinship structures create persistent channels for language transmission. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A, v. 114
    Doi: http://doi.org/10.1073/pnas.1706416114
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    2016

  • Jacobs, GS., Sluckin, TJ. and Kivisild, T., 2016. Refining the Use of Linkage Disequilibrium as a Robust Signature of Selective Sweeps. Genetics, v. 203
    Doi: http://doi.org/10.1534/genetics.115.185900
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  • Pagani, L., Lawson, DJ., Jagoda, E., Mörseburg, A., Eriksson, A., Mitt, M., Clemente, F., Hudjashov, G., DeGiorgio, M., Saag, L., Wall, JD., Cardona, A., Mägi, R., Wilson Sayres, MA., Kaewert, S., Inchley, C., Scheib, CL., Järve, M., Karmin, M., Jacobs, GS., Antao, T., Iliescu, FM., Kushniarevich, A., Ayub, Q., Tyler-Smith, C., Xue, Y., Yunusbayev, B., Tambets, K., Mallick, CB., Saag, L., Pocheshkhova, E., Andriadze, G., Muller, C., Westaway, MC., Lambert, DM., Zoraqi, G., Turdikulova, S., Dalimova, D., Sabitov, Z., Sultana, GNN., Lachance, J., Tishkoff, S., Momynaliev, K., Isakova, J., Damba, LD., Gubina, M., Nymadawa, P., Evseeva, I., Atramentova, L., Utevska, O., Ricaut, F-X., Brucato, N., Sudoyo, H., Letellier, T., Cox, MP., Barashkov, NA., Skaro, V., Mulahasanovic, L., Primorac, D., Sahakyan, H., Mormina, M., Eichstaedt, CA., Lichman, DV., Abdullah, S., Chaubey, G., Wee, JTS., Mihailov, E., Karunas, A., Litvinov, S., Khusainova, R., Ekomasova, N., Akhmetova, V., Khidiyatova, I., Marjanović, D., Yepiskoposyan, L., Behar, DM., Balanovska, E., Metspalu, A., Derenko, M., Malyarchuk, B., Voevoda, M., Fedorova, SA., Osipova, LP., Lahr, MM., Gerbault, P., Leavesley, M., Migliano, AB., Petraglia, M., Balanovsky, O., Khusnutdinova, EK., Metspalu, E., Thomas, MG., Manica, A., Nielsen, R., Villems, R., Willerslev, E., Kivisild, T. and Metspalu, M., 2016. Genomic analyses inform on migration events during the peopling of Eurasia. Nature, v. 538
    Doi: http://doi.org/10.1038/nature19792
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  • Inchley, CE., Larbey, CDA., Shwan, NAA., Pagani, L., Saag, L., Antão, T., Jacobs, G., Hudjashov, G., Metspalu, E., Mitt, M., Eichstaedt, CA., Malyarchuk, B., Derenko, M., Wee, J., Abdullah, S., Ricaut, F-X., Mormina, M., Mägi, R., Villems, R., Metspalu, M., Jones, MK., Armour, JAL. and Kivisild, T., 2016. Selective sweep on human amylase genes postdates the split with Neanderthals Scientific Reports, v. 6
    Doi: http://doi.org/10.1038/srep37198
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    2015

  • Jacobs, GS. and Sluckin, TJ., 2015. Long-range dispersal, stochasticity and the broken accelerating wave of advance. Theor Popul Biol, v. 100C
    Doi: http://doi.org/10.1016/j.tpb.2014.12.003
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    2014

  • Clemente, FJ., Cardona, A., Inchley, CE., Peter, BM., Jacobs, G., Pagani, L., Lawson, DJ., Antão, T., Vicente, M., Mitt, M., DeGiorgio, M., Faltyskova, Z., Xue, Y., Ayub, Q., Szpak, M., Mägi, R., Eriksson, A., Manica, A., Raghavan, M., Rasmussen, M., Rasmussen, S., Willerslev, E., Vidal-Puig, A., Tyler-Smith, C., Villems, R., Nielsen, R., Metspalu, M., Malyarchuk, B., Derenko, M. and Kivisild, T., 2014. A Selective Sweep on a Deleterious Mutation in CPT1A in Arctic Populations. Am J Hum Genet, v. 95
    Doi: http://doi.org/10.1016/j.ajhg.2014.09.016
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  • Kaiping, GA., Jacobs, GS., Cox, SJ. and Sluckin, TJ., 2014. Nonequivalence of updating rules in evolutionary games under high mutation rates. Phys Rev E Stat Nonlin Soft Matter Phys, v. 90
    Doi: http://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevE.90.042726
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    Conference proceedings

    2018

  • Eichstaedt, C., Pagani, L., Antao, T., Inchley, C., Cardona, A., Morseburg, A., Clemente, F., Sluckin, T., Metspalu, E., Mitt, M., Magi, R., Hudjashov, G., Metspalu, M., Mormina, M., Jacobs, G. and Kivisild, T., 2018. New evidence of genetic adaptation to high altitude in Andean populations EUROPEAN RESPIRATORY JOURNAL, v. 52
    Doi: http://doi.org/10.1183/13993003.congress-2018.PA1274
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    2017

  • Iliescu, FM., Chaplin, G., Rai, N., Jacobs, G., Mallick, CB., Mishra, A., Goto, R., Tamang, R., Chaubey, G., Romero, IG., Crivellaro, F., Pitchappan, R., Singh, L., Mirazon-Lahr, M., Metspalu, M., Thangaraj, K., Kivisild, T. and Jablonski, NG., 2017. The complicated genetic landscape of skin color in India AMERICAN JOURNAL OF PHYSICAL ANTHROPOLOGY, v. 162
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    Teaching and Supervisions

    Teaching: 

    I am involved in the teaching of the following courses:

    Paper B1: Humans in Biological Perspective
    Paper B4: Comparative Human Biology
    Paper B16 – Genomes: Ancient, Modern and Mixed

     

    Research supervision: 

    I am interested in supervising students who wish to study for an MPhil or a PhD in the following topics:

    • Genetics of archaic introgression
    • Human microbiome diversity and evolution
    • Genetic adaptation and signals of selection
    • Modelling the genetics of social behaviour
    • Human-domesticate coevolution
    • Genetics of South Asian cattle

    Job Titles

    Assistant Professor in Human Evolutionary Genetics and Bioinformatics
    Image of Dr Guy Jacobs

    General Info

    Available for consultancy
    Research Expertise / Fields of study: 
    Human Population Genetics
    Human Evolutionary and Behavioural Ecology

    Contact Details

    gsj22 [at] cam.ac.uk
    MOBILE project

    Affiliations

    Subjects: 
    Biological Anthropology
    Geographical areas: 
    South Asia
    Southeast Asia

    Contact Us

    Postal Address:
    Department of Archaeology
    Downing Street
    CB2 3DZ Cambridge

     

    Information provided by: 

    outreach@arch.cam.ac.uk

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