2024-03-05 17:49:59
New Delhi/Pune: Indian and American researchers have detected substantial Neanderthal genes in modern Indian DNA. The special thing is that the new information found in the research is contrary to previous assumptions. DNA study finds that Indians represent the most diverse Neanderthal ancestry globally. This clearly means that Indians have inherited a greater number of genetic traits from Neanderthals than other populations. This study has already become a topic of discussion among academicians. Currently it is being reviewed by Nature. It looks at how genes inherited from ancient human ancestors may impact immune function and disease risk in Indians.
Research on genome of 2700 people
Researchers from University of California Berkeley, University of Southern California and AIIMS Delhi conducted a study in this regard. They collected 2,700 high-coverage genomes from individuals born in 23 states, including Delhi, Maharashtra, Punjab, Rajasthan and Haryana. The study identified specific areas. It explored the genome, where ancient genes were more common and how they may influence health in modern Indian populations. Priya Moorjani, lead researcher of the study and assistant professor at the University of California, Berkeley, said that among these, there is a gene cluster on chromosome 3 that affects the response to Covid-19. It was inherited from Neanderthals. It is present in 20-35% of Indians. This increases the risk of serious symptoms after Covid infection and hospitalization.
How did the question become extinct in humans? Something like this happened two and a half crore years ago, still paying the price
About 50% of the Neanderthal genome
“We found that 1-2% of Indian ancestry comes from ancient humans like Neanderthals and Denisovans,” Moorjani told our associate newspaper Times of India. By studying modern Indian DNA, we recovered about 50% of the Neanderthal genome and 20% of the Denisovan genome. It entered the Indian gene pool long ago. Additionally, we found that Indians have the most unique Neanderthal fragment compared to people around the world. These ‘fragments’ are fragments of DNA inherited from Neanderthals that have survived across generations. He said Neanderthals are an extinct species of humans who lived in Eurasia until about 40,000 years ago. The Denisovans were also a group of extinct hominins (early human relatives) who lived thousands of years ago.
As treatment expenses increase, people are unable to eat nutritious food, shocking facts revealed in the new study of AIIMS
Will be able to detect health risks
Studying Neanderthal ancestry in Indians could reveal insights about genetic health risks, said Dr. Neeraj Rai of the Birbal Sawhney Institute of Palaeosciences. For example, Neanderthal DNA in modern humans may be associated with diseases such as lupus, Crohn’s disease, biliary cirrhosis, and type 2 diabetes. Researcher Alice Kerdoncuff of the University of California, Berkeley, said that ancient Neanderthal and Denisovan DNA in Indians affects related genes. These are helpful in brain development, muscle repair and immune function. These genetic contributions from our ancient ancestors influence how our bodies respond to injury and fight disease, he said.
Fish consumption is lowest in Haryana, know in which state it is consumed the most.
Dr AB De, former head of geriatric medicine at AIIMS, said the study focuses on the population aged 60 years and above in India, providing information about their survival trends despite various diseases and infections in a tropical country. Does. This data can be used for further research to investigate whether ancestral genes may have played a role in these tendencies.