Welcome to The Genetic Pilfer - a newsletter at the intersection of genetics, history, and human behavior.
I’m Davide Piffer, a researcher with over a decade of experience studying population genetics, intelligence, creativity, personality, and behavior. My work explores how genes have shaped the human story - from the rise of ancient civilizations to modern differences in cognition and culture.
Besides publishing the first twin study of creativity, and a “sexy” hypothesis of sleep patterns, I kickstarted the “cognitive genetics revolution” back in 2013 (Piffer, 2013) with the publication of the first paper which demonstrated polygenic selection on educational attainment. Back then, researchers still thought cognitive differences between individuals (let alone people) were due to a few large effect mutations, and polygenic scores were overlooked.
This publication is for readers who are:
Curious about what ancient DNA reveals about our ancestors.
Interested in the science behind polygenic scores and human diversity.
Open to exploring how genetics interacts with psychology, history, and society.
Here, you’ll find:
Deep dives into the evolution of intelligence and personality across time.
Insights from archaeogenetics - what ancient genomes tell us about migration, adaptation, and civilization.
Fresh tools and data, such as my recent app comparing genetic diversity across 115 global populations.
Occasional provocative ideas that challenge assumptions and invite discussion.
My goal isn’t just to share research, but to spark curiosity and debate. If you’re the kind of reader who wants more than headlines - who enjoys going one layer deeper into the data, evidence, and implications - you’ll feel at home here.
Why Subscribe?
Free subscribers get access to essays, commentary, and key research highlights.
Paid subscribers support the work directly and unlock deeper analysis, early access to tools, and the chance to shape future research directions.
If you’ve ever wondered: How did human intelligence evolve? Why do populations differ in personality traits? What do ancient genomes say about the rise and fall of civilizations? - then this publication is for you.
👉 Subscribe today to join a growing community of readers exploring the genetic threads woven into the human story.
References:
Piffer, D. (2013). Factor Analysis of Population Allele Frequencies as a Simple, Novel Method of Detecting Signals of Recent Polygenic Selection: The Example of Educational Attainment and IQ. Mankind Quarterly, 54(2), 168–200. https://doi.org/10.46469/mq.2013.54.2.3
