The whole genome sequencing projects have been planned and already carried out for more than 100 species. Regarding primates, the whole (draft) genome sequencing for three species—human, chimpanzee, and macaque—have been published recently. The accumulation of the whole genome data for representative species makes it much easier to compare genome regions between the other species that the whole genome sequencings haven’t been done. The study on genome-wide diversity within species also has best progressed in humans: the international HapMap project provides more than one million SNPs from African, European, and East Asian. The databases are fully equipped, and the whole genome sequence data from various species and the HapMap data from human populations are accessible easily via internet. The great expand of genomic science could bring (and already have brought) about a revolution in academism, industry, and ideology regarding “humans” and “human beings.” From an industrial point of view, development of more efficient sequencing and typing of genomes has been the main focus of interest. But, scientists should always be more conscious about accuracy of genome data and strictness of the interpretations using them. In this context, anthropology must play an important role in human genome sciences. Here I review recent genome sciences, and discuss the “connection” between genome sciences and anthropology.

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The Muramatsu-shirane site (the later 15^th centuries), which is located in Ibaraki prefecture, Japan, was thought to be a salt-producing village in medieval times. However, the historical trail of the inhabitants of this village has not been determined. In this study, we discuss this problem by the information of the genetic composition obtained by analyzing the mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) of the human skeletal remains excavated from this site. Using the method of ancient DNA analysis, we determined the sequences of hypervariable region (HVR) 1, 2, and the coding region of mtDNA; moreover, and the haplogroup-diagnostic polymorphisms in the coding regions of 74 individuals. As result, 49 individuals were successfully analyzed, and the mtDNA of these individuals was classified into 29 haplotypes. This indicates that the individuals who inhabited the Muramatsu-shirane site originated from different maternal lines. Moreover, the haplogroup frequency and the cluster analysis of the people of Muramatsu-shirane were similar to those of the contemporary Japanese population and the medieval people of Kamakura, which was a major city in the medieval times. Considering the fact that this was one of the first sites in this region where salt production was documented, it is probable that salt production in the Muramatsu-shirane was initiated by people who had immigrated from different areas. This study that ancient DNA analysis of the inhabitant of the medieval village could afford a clue to the discuss of the formation process of the village.

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The frequency and morphology of mandibular tori and the correlations between their development and environmental factors (number of teeth, degree of deviation of dental position, and degree of dental attrition) were examined in 105 Jomon people, 90 medieval Japanese and 105 modern Japanese. The palpable tori were found in 83.5% of Jomon people, 62.3% of medieval Japanese and 64.8% of modern Japanese. The perceptible tori were found in 70.1% of Jomon people, 18.2% of medieval Japanese and 22.0% of modern Japanese. The distributions of torus classes were statistically significantly different between Jomon people and medieval and modern Japanese. Mandibular tori were most frequently found under the first premolar in medieval and modern Japanese peoples. However, in Jomon people, tori were most frequently found under the second premolar. The distributions of torus positions were statistically significantly different between Jomon people and medieval and modern Japanese. In Jomon people, the torus size positively correlated with the degree of dental attrition. In medieval Japanese, the torus class and size positively correlated with the degree of dental attrition. A high degree of dental attrition might indicate that teeth and the mandible suffered considerable masticatory stress or they suffered masticatory stress for long time. Therefore, these results suggested that masticatory stress might be one of the causes of torus development. We also considered that a genetic factor might affect torus development.

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In an effort to understand the habitual behaviors of ancient children, this study examined the growth pattern of limb bones in subadult skeletal samples from the Jomon, the Yayoi, and the Medieval and the early Modern periods of Japan. Results indicate that the external cross sections of the upper limb bones of the Jomon children were markedly large and flat during the ages of 1–3 years, and then this tendency disappeared until late teenage. Pilastering of the femur and platycnemia in the lower limb bones of the Jomon sample appear to have developed progressively after the age of 10–12 years. This development of pronounced pilastering in the lower limb bones at the onset of adolescence supports the hypothesis that flatness of tibia is influenced by heavy loading and nutritional deficiency (Morimoto, 1981). The anterior-posterior loading on the lower limb suggests the Jomon children were already participating in hunting-gathering by adolescence. Furthermore, the more robust upper limbs of the Jomon children during the age 1–3 years, relative to the other study samples, may also be related to differences in habitual behaviors although distinguishing specific activities is beyond the scope of this paper.

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