Human evolution speeded up 40,000 years ago.

Researchers from the University of Wisconsin analysed 3.9 million genetic differences called SNPs( single nucletide molypormism from 270 people, information gathered by the International Hapmap project.

These 270 people were North European, Chinese, Japanese and Nigerian.

About 7% or 1800 genes have changed during the last 40,000 years because of natural selection.

Human rates of evolution must have speeded up, especially during the last 4/5,000 years.

Humans have evolved resistance to diseases like malaria, as well as traits like lactose tolerance.

It was previously thought that humans reached their present form around palaeolithic times.

Natural selection may also be favouring teenage pregnancies