How Neanderthal DNA Affects Your Genome

[Koovie]

Ancient members of our species had sex with Neanderthals. That lineage contributes to 1–3% of the DNA in almost everyone outside of sub-Saharan Africa today. This much we know. When, where, and how often is a bit more murky. Studies published this year have narrowed down the timeframe of this interbreeding event to between 50,000 and 60,000 years ago in the Middle East; others say that it was about 37,000 to 42,000 years ago inEurope. And at least one study found evidence for more than one pulse of Neanderthal gene flow.

Regardless of the timing and location, researchers around the world are using large genomics studies to unravel the contributions that these ancient intermixing events made to our biology, Nature News reports. As it turns out, from our risk of developing a nicotine addiction to our chances of getting a stomach ulcer... their effects on our genomes were big.

Vanderbilt University’s Corinne Simonti and Tony Capra looked for differences between people who carry a particular Neanderthal gene variant and people with our species’ version of the same gene. The Neanderthal variants, they found, appeared to increase the risk of osteoporosis, blood-coagulation disorders, and addiction to nicotine. When the effects of many DNA variants were combined, they found links between Neanderthal DNA and depression, obesity, and certain skin disorders, including sun-triggered lesions. It’s important to note that while some variants were associated with an increased risk, others were linked with a reduced risk.

Meanwhile, a team led by Michael Dannemann from the Max Planck Institute for Evolutionary Anthropology found that many humans have Neanderthal versions of genes that code for proteins called toll-like receptors. These proteins help to initiate the body’s immune response when they sense pathogens. Human cells that contain the archaic versions tend to express these proteins at higher levels than cells carrying the Homo sapiens versions. While some of these archaic versions have been linked to a reduced risk of H. pylori infection (which can cause ulcers), other variants have been linked to higher rates of developing allergies.

These findings were presented at the Society for Molecular Biology and Evolution meetingin Vienna earlier this month.
How Neanderthal DNA Affects Your Genome | IFLScience

 

[Dubious]

who carry a particular Neanderthal gene variant and people with our species’ version of the same gene. The Neanderthal variants, they found, appeared to increase the risk of osteoporosis, blood-coagulation disorders, and addiction to nicotine. When the effects of many DNA variants were combined, they found links between Neanderthal DNA and depression, obesity, and certain skin disorders, including sun-triggered lesions. It’s important to note that while some variants were associated with an increased risk, others were linked with a reduced risk.

what exactly is our species version and Neanderthal?
2ndly, yup blame it all on the Neanderthal for polluting our DNA while ours was as pure as milk

What basis does this claim carry? Would read the article if I find it

found that many humans have Neanderthal versions of genes that code for proteins called toll-like receptors. These proteins help to initiate the body’s immune response when they sense pathogens. Human cells that contain the archaic versions tend to express these proteins at higher levels than cells carrying the Homo sapiens versions. While some of these archaic versions have been linked to a reduced risk of H. pylori infection (which can cause ulcers), other variants have been linked to higher rates of developing allergies.

Our ancestors were not a picky bunch. Overwhelming genetic evidence shows that Homo sapienshad sex with Neanderthals, Denisovans and other archaic relatives. Now researchers are using large genomics studies to unravel the decidedly mixed contributions that these ancient romps made to human biology — from the ability of H. sapiens to cope with environments outside Africa, to the tendency of modern humans to get asthma, skin diseases and maybe even depression.


So basically we share some 50% DNA with banana who had sex with the banana?

To get a better handle on how Neanderthal DNA shapes human biology, Corinne Simonti and Tony Capra, evolutionary geneticists at Vanderbilt University in Nashville, Tennessee, turned to genome-wide association studies (GWAS) that had already compared thousands of DNA variants in people with and without a certain disease or condition.

I hope people do know that GWAS is being replaced by other methods....

Oh well I will wait for more proof to come up...But interesting read though!

 

[Koovie]

what exactly is our species version and Neanderthal?

Yes, a bit flabby. But its just a summary. I guess they refer to a particular type of gene that could only be found in modern humans and to one that could be found in Neanderthal and h.sapiens.

2ndly, yup blame it all on the Neanderthal for polluting our DNA while ours was as pure as milk

Depends on the point of view, since they were analyzing our DNA. If you look at it the other way round its like this:
"Contamination with modern human DNA, estimated from mitochondrial and nuclear DNA sequences, is around 1%."

So basically we share some 50% DNA with banana who had sex with the banana?

Evolution!

Oh well I will wait for more proof to come up...But interesting read though!

Yes, GWAS is in discussion and has some limitations. From where did you quote that ?

 

[Dubious]

Evolution

From a banana?

Any molecular biologist will tell you that MANY organisms share similar DNA with each other ESP regulatory genes...For instance having receptors, DNA coding for hormones, DNA coding for antibodies, how to fold a protein...since each and everything is written in it...some overlaps are undeniable!

From where did you quote that ?

From same the link provided by the article

Nature News reports

 

[Koovie]

From same the link provided by the article

Oh, I didnt see it, thx

From a banana?

Any molecular biologist will tell you that MANY organisms share similar DNA with each other ESP regulatory genes...For instance having receptors, DNA coding for hormones, DNA coding for antibodies, how to fold a protein...since each and everything is written in it...some overlaps are undeniable!

Didnt think of that

I was thinking about the common ancestor which we must have had in the pre Cambrian age when the first eukaryotic cell dveloped

 

[Dubious]

Didnt think of that

Just a thought

I was thinking about the common ancestor which we must have had in the pre Cambrian age when the first eukaryotic cell dveloped

Probably