Revolutionary genetic research reveals insights into ancient human health

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NEW YORK, Jan 13: In a groundbreaking endeavor, researchers have established the world’s largest ancient human gene bank, analyzing bones and teeth from nearly 5,000 individuals who lived across Western Europe and Asia up to 34,000 years ago. Published on January 10, 2024, in Nature, four seminal research papers disclose astonishing results, shedding light on historical gene spread, disease patterns, and new biological understanding of debilitating disorders.

Led by Professor Eske Willerslev at the Universities of Cambridge and Copenhagen, Professor Thomas Werge at the University of Copenhagen, and Professor Rasmus Nielsen at the University of California, Berkeley, the international team of 175 researchers utilized ancient DNA sequencing to map the historical migration of genes and diseases. The study unveiled unprecedented insights into neurodegenerative diseases, the height disparity between northern and southern Europeans, and the impact of major migrations on genetic risk in north-western Europe.

Key findings include tracing the origins of neurodegenerative diseases, uncovering the reason for the height difference between northern and southern Europeans, and identifying how a significant migration 5,000 years ago introduced risk genes into north-western European populations, leading to higher rates of multiple sclerosis (MS) today.

Moreover, the study revealed that carrying the MS gene conferred an advantage in ancient times, protecting farmers from infectious diseases spread by their livestock. The genetic variants associated with an increased risk of MS were traced back to the Yamnaya people, who migrated from the Pontic Steppe into northwestern Europe.

The research, facilitated by a unique gene bank of ancient DNA created over five years, provides a genetic perspective on MS and dispels the mystery behind the ‘North-South Gradient’ in MS prevalence. The study’s impact extends to understanding and treating MS as a result of genetic adaptation to ancient environmental conditions.

The age of specimens ranges from the Mesolithic to the Middle Ages, with the oldest genome dating back approximately 34,000 years. The groundbreaking findings have implications for neurological conditions such as Parkinson’s and Alzheimer’s diseases, as well as psychiatric disorders, with plans to make the gene bank open access for further research.

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