BioQuakes

AP Biology class blog for discussing current research in Biology

Tag: neanderthals

Unlocking Our Ancient Past: Exploring the Genetic Legacy of Extinct Cousins DNA

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On October 21, 2023

In Student Post

Have you ever wondered where we came from? Who we were? What genes truly lie within us, our mothers, fathers? According to a recent research article from ScienceDaily, Neanderthal genetics is one of them, and the genes still affect human life today. In this research article, the researchers from multi-institution teams, including Cornell University, have shown that Neanderthal genes comprise about 1 to 4% of the genome of present-day humans, mostly of those whose ancestors migrated out of Africa. These genomes are not surprising to the scientific community, but their effect on today’s society in human bodies is remarkable. Through a new plethora of computational genetic tools, researchers found the genetic effects of interbreeding between humans of non-African ancestry and Neanderthals that took place 50,000 years ago, as well as the effects on present-day human life. 

Close up of a Neanderthal in a museum

 In a study published in eLife, researchers reported that some Neanderthal genes are essential for specific traits in modern humans. Using an extensive dataset from the UK Biobank consisting of hereditary and trait information of nearly 300,000 Brits, the researchers examined more than 235,000 genetic variants likely to have originated from Neanderthals. They found that 4,303 of those differences in DNA play a vital role in modern humans and influence 47 distinct genetic traits. These genetic traits can include how fast someone can burn calories or a person’s natural immune resistance to certain diseases. Isn’t that unbelievable? How did something from so many years ago affect such a critical part of our lives? Even though they lived thousands of years ago, we all have a part of the Neanderthals in our genetics.

In another article by U.S.News, the idea of immune resistance through our body’s fight against COVID-19 is displayed. The results show that some people who have increased genes from their Neanderthal ancestors may have an increased likelihood of suffering severe forms of COVID-19. These genes, haplotype, increase the risks of hospitalization and not recovering from the virus, showing that having these traits while being able to burn calories fast may cause harm to us as well. As appealing as it might sound, I know it does to me that Neanderthal genes can help in various ways; it is also quite scary. The risk factors of diabetes, heart problems, and obesity can lead to death when mixed with the virus and the gene itself lingering within us. Since these genes are a part of our fundamental hereditary units and will continue to pass down from generation to generation, with all of these effects, this investigation commenced and evolved into an important and crucial step toward understanding where we came from and who we are. Therefore, these traits affect the lives of humans every day in COVID as well as provide multiple factors of traits that we live with every day, not even knowing where they came from.

Hospital HallwayNovel Coronavirus SARS-CoV-2

As an AP Bio student, in Unit 1, we talked about the parts of the cell along with the DNA that is within the cell. These cells are deeply related to what this topic is about, as the process in which genes work revolves around the cell that it is in. First, it starts with transcription, which is the process in which the genetic material is stored in DNA and replicated into a molecule of messenger RNA. The information goes from the DNA in the nucleus to the cytoplasm to carry out protein synthesis. In the cytoplasm, ribosomes make the proteins that create these specific effects mentioned above. Each gene carries instructions for the proteins that determine your features, such as eye color, hair color, height, and, in this case, immune resistance. These two must connect with each other to fully understand how these genes are still here thousands of years later. The answer is that the genetic material has been carried down for this time through each and every ancestor we have had. It’s pretty scary, if you ask me.

Diagram of a gene on a chromosome CRUK 020

I am not the only one who believes that these causes of our ancestral genes are threatening. If you are like me and want to continue learning about this, reach out! As well as anyone with first-hand knowledge of the research or possible medical intervention, please comment! Share your knowledge with me. The custom software discussed in the ScienceDaily link from UCLA is available for free download and use by anyone interested in further research. So, if you are an AP Bio student like I am or just interested in the genes defining us, even though they are from thousands of years ago, join the conversation. These traits and genes are just being figured out, as most of the work started in September 2023. No matter what fears you may have, to leave you with a sense of comfort after a long list of possible effects, modern human genes are prevailing over successive generations. Therefore, this research, although evolving with us, must continue.

Geneticist Svante Pääbo is the first person to extract DNA from extinct human species.

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On October 21, 2022

In Student Post

Various forms of the human species have been alive for hundreds of thousands of years before us. For the longest time, it was concluded that DNA breaks down over time and cannot be excreted from ancient fossils…until Svante Pääbo joined the research.

Pääbo, the leader of his research team, was able to extract fragments of DNA from the bones of Neanderthals and Denisovans. By extracting mitochondria outside the cell nuclei, Pääbo’s team was able to place the genetic information into the appropriate chromosome locations “by matching each fragment to similar sequences in human DNA” (Bower). As we learned in class, mitochondria contain circular chromosomes of DNA. Pääbo’s team was able to extract the mitochondria from the cell and then analyze the mtDNA in comparison to modern-day humans. With this process, he concluded that humans diverged from Neanderthals about 516,000 years ago.

Another way they were able to identify common genetic information in the present-day Homo sapiens was by putting DNA into a certain bacteria, which would then make copies of DNA fragments. With this effort, they were able to recover 29 out of the 35 genes that they were targeting.

These new techniques brought research teams to conclude that modern-day humans share similar genes to Denisovans such as ones that regulate brain size, help us adapt to altitude, or even make covid-19 more severe in some cases. The evidence around the commonalities of certain genes encourages the theory that at some point there was interbreeding between Homo lineage.

Pääbo’s findings have paved the way for groundbreaking research, identifying commonalities in evolution, and have helped us understand what makes humans so unique. This new state-of-the-art process can hopefully one day expand to multiple labs, research teams, and even countries. This would allow us to learn even more about our sophisticated past and maybe even some things about our future!

Mitochondrial DNA lgNeanderthalensis

 

 

Are Genes Inherited from Neanderthals Protecting People Against COVID-19?

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On October 31, 2021

In Student Post

Neanderthals, from roughly 40,000 years ago, have had an impact on protecting people, that contain a specific haplotype on chromosome 12, from having severe symptoms due to the Sars-COV-2 virus. Researchers conducted a study that showed a ~22% decrease in severe illness connected to a gene inherited from Neanderthals.   

Neanderthals evolved in western Eurasia -the largest continental area consisting of Europe and Asia- about half a million years ago, living mostly separated from early modern humans in Africa. Neanderthals likely developed certain genes allowing them to fight off infectious diseases during the time of their existence. Due to natural selection, which is when animals with the most favorable traits for survival will survive to reproduce and pass on their genes, these neanderthals were able to evolve and pass on the favorable gene allowing modern humans today to fight off Sars-Cov-2. Through natural selection, the haplotype, on chromosome 12, linked to protection against certain viruses has been passed on. This specific haplotype has helped people during the current pandemic to stay out of the hoHuman male karyotpe high resolution - Chromosome 12spital. 

This study discovered that this specific haplotype on chromosome 12 contains three helpful genes: OAS1, OAS2, and OAS3. These genes encode for a specific enzyme called oligoadenylate synthetase. As we learned in AP Biology, enzymes are created by free ribosomes in the cytosol; the ribosomes manufacture proteins(a chain of amino acids), such as enzymes for cellular reactions. The oligoadenylate chain triggers ribonuclease L. The ribonuclease L, also known as RNase L, is only activated when a viral infection enters the body; it breaks down the viral RNA molecules, leading to autophagy. This enzyme breaks down the viral Sars-Cov-2 RNA and slows/stops the spread of the virus in the body. 

Many people have been trying to find ways to move forward from this pandemic and return to our previous form of normal life. Scientists may be able to use this information about this specific haplotype on chromosome 12 with gene editing technologies, such as CRISPR, to help individuals slow and later stop the spread of COVID-19. Research like this may be one way to be able to return to a normal life-style and keep people out of hospitals from COVID-19. As we continue on in AP Biology this year, I look forward to learning about the idea of genes and gene editing as I will have more knowledge to touch back on this research study. Do you think that this is a possible solution to the COVID-19 pandemic?

 

 

Shocking Connection Between Ancient Neanderthals and COVID-19

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On October 27, 2020

In Student Post

As stated in an article that details the shocking discoveries of an investigation led by Professors Svante Pääbo and Hugo Zeberg, genetic material from our neanderthal ancestors can be linked to the development of severe COVID-19. COVID-19, as I am sure you are all aware, is the disease ravaging the world and is caused by the newly

discovered coronavirus. While most people only have mild reactions to the disease and recover relatively easily, some people with underlying conditions may have a severe reaction to the disease and require hospitalization. However, this new study indicates that certain people may be genetically predisposed to a severe COVID-19 reaction, and it all links back to our 60,000-year-old Neanderthal ancestors.

The study that discovered this connection analyzed the genetic material of 3,000 patients who had both severe and mild COVID-19. The study identified a section of the chromosome that contained the genetic material responsible for the severe COVID-19. Chromosomes are tiny structures located in the nucleus of cells and these structures hold the genetic material that determines virtually everything about the cell. This genetic material is made up of nucleic acids that — when combined into a double-strand helix by covalent bonds between the phosphate, sugar, and base groups– create DNA. The order of the bases in the chain determines the amino acid sequence. We inherit our genetic material from our parents, and chromosomes are present in pairs, with one part of the pair inherited from each parent. This means that you hold genetic information from your earliest ancestors, which could potentially include Neanderthals. Neanderthals were archaic humanoids that were eventually assimilated into the homo sapien species.  However, cross-breeding was required to absorb the Neanderthals into our species, which means that most of the people alive today have a percentage of Neanderthal DNA. If a person holds one of the thirteen variants that are present in Neanderthal DNA, they are far more likely to have severe COVID-19.

Professors Pääbo and Zeberg proved this to be true by discovering that the Neanderthal variants distinctly matched the variants associated with severe COVID-19. However, they discovered that the genetic material only originated from Neanderthals located in southern Europe. Therefore, they concluded that when the Neanderthals of southern Europe merged with present-day people 60,000 years ago, they introduced the DNA region responsible for severe cases of COVID-19. Additionally, the people who possess these Neanderthal variants today are three times more likely to have severe COVID-19. The fact that I found the most interesting is how dramatically the presence of the variants vary in different parts of the world. For example, in South Asia, 50% of the population holds the variants, but in East Asia, almost nobody has them. I also think that it is rather tragic how genetic material that has not had any effect on the world for 60,000 years is just now becoming active. What do you think about this discovery? Why do you believe Neanderthal DNA is causing these extreme cases?

 

Gosh…You’re Such a Caveperson!

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On October 24, 2017

In Student Post

Do you know your ancestry?  While all humans beings have their own varying histories, many are held together by one ancestral truth. They are all partly Neanderthals!  A new Neanderthal woman has been found in Croatia, and the tests being performed on her are changing the way scientists perceive human genealogy.

This discovery may be more impactful news for humans that originated outside of Africa.  For those who migrated out of Africa, scientists have cause to believe that Neanderthal DNA accounts for 1.8 to 2.6 percent of their DNA!  Considering that the common belief had been that Neanderthals accounted for 1.5 to 2.1 percent, this new knowledge is a great leap forward in understanding the way that evolution and ancestry shape the life of the modern human.  The genes that Neanderthals contributed to the modern human may affect cholesterol, mental health, body fat levels, and more.  Don’t be too alarmed about the potential negative side effects of sharing Neanderthal DNA, though.  The lead author on the study, Kay Prüfer, clarified that Neanderthal DNA is not definitively bad for your health.  He said, “We find one variant that is associated with LDL cholesterol, and the variant we got from Neanderthals is associated with lower LDL cholesterol.” So, rest assured.  Neanderthal DNA does not mean you will have certain health issues. It only means that you can.

These studies are not only teaching scientists about humans, though.  By comparing the bone fragments of the Neanderthal found in Croatia with another Neanderthal found in Siberia, scientists discovered that Neanderthals are extremely similar in DNA to one another.  Despite being from different parts of the world, both Neanderthals had strikingly close DNA structure.  This closeness in DNA is most likely a cause of a small population.  All of this information sheds a light on the low density of the Neanderthal population as well as their way of living.

While this discovery has greatly reshaped the way that we view modern human DNA, research on Neanderthals persists. Scientists hope to find even more information that will teach people about the history of Neanderthals as well as their influence on the human race.

 

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