All articles tagged with #genetic inheritance
Neanderthal DNA, inherited through ancient interbreeding with modern humans, influences various aspects of our health and physical traits today, including skin color, immune response, and susceptibility to certain diseases, while also offering insights into human evolution.
Research indicates that interbreeding between Denisovans and early modern humans contributed to the genetic makeup of present-day humans, with evidence of multiple interbreeding events and Denisovan-derived genes providing survival advantages in various environments. Future studies aim to uncover more about Denisovan influence through genetic and archaeological research.
The study explores the mechanism behind a parent-of-origin effect on gene expression in a hermaphroditic nematode, C. tropicalis, uncovering a selfish element, slow-1/grow-1, with a maternal-effect toxin and zygotically expressed antidotes. The study reveals that the paternal inheritance of slow-1/grow-1 leads to decreased SLOW-1 dosage, transgenerational repression, and targeting by the piRNA pathway, shedding light on the evolutionary origins of imprinting and the molecular mechanisms underlying parent-of-origin effects on gene expression.
Scientists have discovered how the protein DDM1 aids in the methylation process that silences "jumping genes" in plants, ensuring the preservation of epigenetic controls across generations. The study provides insights into how plants pass down genetic memories and could have implications for agriculture and human genetics. The research also sheds light on the role of DDM1-like proteins in maintaining DNA methylation in humans.
A new study has found that interbreeding with Neanderthals 40,000 years ago has left a genetic inheritance that affects our health today. Researchers found that a Neanderthal gene variant increases the risk of dying from COVID-19, while another increases the risk of developing Dupuytren's disease, a condition where fingers are permanently bent. The study suggests that up to 30% of men over 60 in northern Europe suffer from Dupuytren's disease due to inherited DNA from Neanderthal ancestors. Only 7% of the human genome is unique to Homo sapiens, with brain development and function setting us apart.