<p>Patterns of genetic variation we observe today hold echoes of the ancestral events that shaped them. Population genetics - the study of genetic variation - offers a window into this past, providing insights across evolutionary biology, history, and human health. Advances in long-read sequencing technology, combined with the rapid decrease in sequencing costs, open new avenues for studying genetic variation. In my talk, I will focus on two such examples: First, how long-read sperm sequencing is uncovering new insights into meiotic recombination, with emphasis on non-crossover recombination. Second, algorithms based on coalescent theory for recovering evolutionary histories, with applications ranging from the deep evolutionary history of humans to detecting natural selection on genetic variants.</p>
