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Scientists Human immune system resisted Neanderthal genes
Although Neanderthals and modern humans lived side by side for some time and also had common offspring, but as history has shown, the former could not prevail. Researchers have now found a possible reason for this. Apparently, only Neanderthal women had successfully reproduced.
Neanderthal genes can be the cause of serious diseases
According to scientific research, our ancestors and the Neanderthals probably met more than 100,000 years ago. Between the two species, there were probably some Techtelmechtel, which led to genes of Neanderthal man are still detectable in our genetic material. Neanderthal genes can still be the cause of serious illnesses. They are associated with, among other things, depression and heart attacks. But the genetic remnants not only have disadvantages for modern humans: Neanderthal genes also strengthen our immune system, as researchers from the Max Planck Institute (MPI) for evolutionary anthropology in Leipzig recently stated in a statement. American scientists now report that they have found a possible reason why Neanderthals still could not prevail.
Neanderthal and modern humans lived together temporarily and also had common offspring. But the human immune system apparently opposed the Neanderthal genes. (Image: Neyro / fotolia.com) Immune system of pregnant women has resisted
Thus, according to a message from the news agency dpa possibly Neanderthal men are guilty that, despite some flirtations with modern people was not enough for more offspring. As a research team led by Fernando Mendez of the University of Stanford (USA) in the journal "American Journal of Human Genetics" reported, certain genetic material on the male sex chromosome may have prevented successful reproduction with Homo sapiens. Thus, the immune system of pregnant women among modern humans may have resisted male fetuses with these Neanderthal genes - with miscarriages and less viable or fertile offspring as a result. However, the occasional mixing has left its mark. According to research, people with roots outside Africa still carry between one and four percent of Neanderthal DNA. The Neanderthal (scientifically: "Homo neanderthalensis") has been considered extinct for about 30,000 years.
For the first time Y sex chromosome of a Neanderthal man analyzed in detail
While women have two X chromosomes, males have one X and one Y chromosome in their genome. According to dpa, the Y sex chromosome of a Neanderthal man had been extensively analyzed in the study for the first time. It is said that the man lived 49,000 years ago in today's Spain. According to Stanford University DNA of the Neanderthal sex chromosome has never been detected in modern humans. The reason may be the incompatibilities, as co-author Sergi Castellano from the Max Planck Institute (MPI) for evolutionary anthropology explained. "Due to genetic incompatibilities, reproduction between Neanderthals and early humans may have been less successful than within the two groups." The result may have been miscarriages and less viable or fertile male offspring of Neanderthals and Homo sapiens. Castellano emphasized that more research was needed in this area.
Last common ancestors lived about 600,000 years ago
According to study data, the last common ancestors lived about 590,000 years ago. According to Castellano, this is in line with previous data from 400,000 to 800,000 years ago. The changes in the Y chromosome of the Neanderthals probably originated in the long time in which the groups were separated. When they finally met again, they fathered fertile offspring several times. "Now we have to go to the lab to better understand the impact of mutations on reproduction," says Castellano.
Modern man left traces in Neanderthal man
A study by MPI researchers recently published in the journal Nature showed that not only the Neanderthals left their genes in modern humans, but vice versa. For example, scientists discovered genome fragments of modern humans in the genome of a Neanderthal man from the Altai Mountains in Central Asia. Based on the age of the examined bones and the nature of the genetic material it could be proven that Neanderthals and modern humans already had children together about 100,000 years ago. (Ad)