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Neanderthal DNA lives on in modern humans, research shows

Posted: January 30, 2014 at 5:46 am

The ancestors of most modern humans mated with Neanderthals and made off with important swaths of DNA that helped them adapt to new environments, scientists reported Wednesday.

Some of the genes gained from these trysts linger in people of European and East Asian descent, though many others were wiped out by natural selection, according to reports published simultaneously by the journals Nature and Science.

The stretches of Neanderthal DNA that remain include genes that altered hair and pigment, as well as others that strengthened the immune system, the scientists wrote. Together, they offer intriguing hints about how Neanderthal genes may have helped humans adapt as they spread around the globe.

They also add to evidence that Neanderthals linger in us, about 30,000 years after they mysteriously vanished.

"They are not fully extinct, if you will," said geneticist Svante Paabo of the Max Planck Institute for Evolutionary Anthropology in Leipzig, Germany, a coauthor of the Nature study. "They live on in some of us today a little bit."

Genes controlling keratin, a key component in the development of skin and hair, stand out as the strongest Neanderthal signal in a modern genome, Paabo said. Precisely how these may have helped change modern physical characteristics remains unresolved, he added.

The new studies confirm earlier findings that modern humans did more than bump elbows with Neanderthals when they encountered them after they left Africa.

An estimated 1% to 3% of the human genome comes from Neanderthals, suggesting that members of the two species mated perhaps 300 times about 50,000 years ago, said Joshua M. Akey, a population geneticist from the University of Washington and lead author of the study published in Science. There's no way to tell whether those encounters happened about the same time or were spread out over many generations, he said.

"Individually, we are a little bit Neanderthal," Akey said. "Collectively, there is a substantial part of the Neanderthal genome that's still floating around in the human population that's just shattered into different pieces, and everyone has slightly different parts."

Confirming that there are slivers of Neanderthal DNA in modern humans is one thing; knowing what effect it had on us is another, said UC Berkeley biologist Montgomery Slatkin, who has done similar research on Neanderthal genetics but was not involved in either study. "Now there is convincing evidence that indeed some [genes] were selected in humans."

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Neanderthal Genes Found in Modern Human DNA, Studies Find

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Neanderthals that have been extinct for 28,000 years live on in human DNA, according to research suggesting the genes may help us better survive cold weather and be linked to some present-day diseases.

The Neanderthal genes make up only about 2 percent to 4 percent of the DNA carried by a given human today, according to a paper published in the journal Science. Even so, it may be linked to the development of our hair and skin, as well as to immune disorders such as Type 2 diabetes, the research found.

New DNA techniques are reshaping knowledge of human evolution just as quickly as theyre sparking the development of medical tests and treatments. Thats allowing scientists to peek into history by comparing modern DNA with the Neanderthal genome, recently reconstructed by scientists using material from the toe bone of a female who lived 50,000 years ago.

Were not as beholden to ancient DNA anymore, said Joshua Akey, an associate professor of genome science at the University of Washington in Seattle, and an author of one of the studies. Rather than excavating bones, we can now excavate DNA from modern individuals.

Akeys study identified the skin and hair traits. A second report yesterday by scientists at Harvard Medical School in Boston and the Broad Institute in Cambridge, Massachusetts, found nine links between Neanderthal DNA and previously identified human genes, some of which affect immune function.

The Neanderthal DNA found in the ancient toe bone was reported in the journal Nature in December. That study suggested inbreeding may have been common for Neanderthals, and may have led to their demise. Earlier studies using less complete genetic profiles determined that Neanderthals probably mated with ancient humans as well.

The latest DNA research supports that conclusion and suggests the Neanderthal genes left behind as a result may have aided humans in adapting to non-African environments, Akey said, adding, Whats striking is you can really look at the distribution of Neanderthal DNA across the entire genome.

Both studies published yesterday identified significant areas within the human genome where no Neanderthal genes appear, more than would be anticipated by chance. That suggests some mutations werent passed on, probably because they didnt help survival.

The shared genes that influence hair and skin traits also influence other things, Akey said. Its possible, for instance, that the Neanderthal genes helped alter pigmentation and moisture retention in humans, helping to increase body warmth in colder climates.

The Harvard study found that genes that are most active in the testes and those in the X chromosome have the least Neanderthal influence, compared to other parts of the genome. The pattern may have been a way for the body to naturally overcome infertility among different species.

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FASEB announces 2014 Science Research Conference: Dynamic DNA Structures in Biology

Posted: at 5:46 am

PUBLIC RELEASE DATE:

29-Jan-2014

Contact: Robin Crawford, CMP src@faseb.org 301-634-7010 Federation of American Societies for Experimental Biology

Bethesda, MD This 2014 FASEB Science Research Conference focuses on dynamic DNA structures. For decades after its discovery, DNA was believed to be a canonical, right-handed double helix. This belief was shaken by the findings that DNA structure is much more dynamic. In fact, DNA can form an enormous variety of secondary structures, including cruciform-like, left-handed helixes, three and four stranded helices, slip-stranded configurations, etc. Most importantly, repetitive DNA sequences, which are overrepresented in genomic DNA, are particularly prone to structural transitions.

Transient denaturation of the double helix, which promotes these dynamic transitions in DNA structure, occurs during all major DNA transactions, including replication, transcription, and recombination. Studies conducted in many labs worldwide have confirmed that structure-prone DNA sequences are central to the normal functioning of the genome, and they are also responsible for its occasional malfunctioning. One striking example is the discovery that expansions of structure-prone DNA repeat leads to more than thirty hereditary neurological and developmental diseases in humans.

Dynamic DNA structures are also involved in regular DNA processes including transcriptional activation, regulation of antigenic switching, and DNA recombination essential to the immune response. DNA structures are associated with recurrent translocations observed in common human cancers, and they also contribute to genomic instability in human hereditary diseases. In an unexpected twist, these DNA structures appeared to be invaluable for nanotechnology, where their unusual physical properties find many applications. These and related topics will be discussed at the conference.

###

FASEB has announced a total of 35 Science Research Conferences (SRC) in 2014. Registration is open. For more information about an SRC, view preliminary programs, or find a listing of all our 2014 SRCs, please visit http://www.faseb.org/SRC.

Since 1982, FASEB SRC has offered a continuing series of inter-disciplinary exchanges that are recognized as a valuable complement to the highly successful society meetings. Divided into small groups, scientists from around the world meet intimately and without distractions to explore new approaches to those research areas undergoing rapid scientific changes.

In efforts to expand the SRC series, potential organizers are encouraged to contact SRC staff at SRC@faseb.org. Proposal guidelines can be found at http://www.faseb.org/SRC.

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FASEB announces 2014 Science Research Conference: Dynamic DNA Structures in Biology

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Ch 14 The Human Genome – Video

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Ch 14 The Human Genome

By: T Carl #39;s Science Forum

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Ch 14 The Human Genome - Video

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Bravely Default Part 67 [Chapter 5 Genome Abilities] – Video

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Bravely Default Part 67 [Chapter 5 Genome Abilities]
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Hertz Fellow Erez Lieberman-Aiden – Video

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Hertz Fellow Erez Lieberman-Aiden
Erez studied in applied mathematics at Harvard and as a student at the Harvard--MIT Division of Health Science and Technology. His work integrates mathematic...

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Cellectis Plant Sciences and Bayer CropScience Extend Their Partnership to Improve Crops by Gene Editing

Posted: at 5:45 am

Regulatory News:

Cellectis plant sciences, the plant genome engineering company and subsidiary of Cellectis SA (Paris:ALCLS), has signed two new agreements with Bayer CropScience, a subsidiary of Bayer AG and a leader in the areas of seeds, crop protection and non-agricultural pest control, on gene editing in plants. The agreements extend the companies existing partnership to introduce targeted modifications to selected plant genes and genomes. The financial terms of these agreements are not disclosed.

The first aim of this extended partnership is to collaboratively create commercial traits for the canola seed market using new technologies developed by Cellectis plant sciences. The second aim is to provide Bayer with access to technologies that enable the directed engineering of plant genomes, such as gene stacking and targeted mutagenesis, for the development of improved crops.

These novel technologies work efficiently in plant cells and will be an important tool to improve crops, said Catherine Feuillet, Head of Trait Research at Bayer CropScience. They facilitate the creation of specific modifications in the plant genome or genes and thus minimize the genetic footprint left behind.

These new agreements position Cellectis plant sciences as a key partner for Bayer CropScience, commented Luc Mathis, CEO of Cellectis plant sciences. Following the technical success we have achieved with all our programs in potatoes and oil crops, such as soybean and canola, the development of new commercial products relevant for the food industry has become the focus of our company.

About Cellectis plant sciences Established in March 2010, Cellectis plant sciences is a subsidiary of Cellectis (Alternext: ALCLS) dedicated to the applications of nucleases in plants. Its main mission is to increase and accelerate usage of Cellectiss proprietary technology in agricultural biology, broaden the companys platform to attract new and expanded licensing opportunities and explore the development of proprietary traits for selected applications. Cellectis plant sciences is located in New Brighton, Minnesota, USA. Professor Daniel Voytas, Chief Scientific Officer of Cellectis plant sciences, is also Director of the University of Minnesota Center for Genome Engineering. For further information, please visit our website: http://www.cellectis.com

About Cellectis Cellectis is a biopharmaceutical company focused on oncology. The companys mission is to develop a novel generation of therapy based on allogeneic T-cell to treat cancer. Cellectis capitalizes on its 14 years of expertise in genome engineering -based on TALEN, meganuclease, and, the state-of-the-art electroporation technology Pulsagile- to create the 4th generation of cancer immunotherapy to treat leukemia and solid tumors. Cellectis adoptive cancer immunotherapy to cure chronic and acute leukemias is based on the first allogeneic T-cell Chimeric Antigen Receptor (CAR) technology. CAR technologies are designed to target cell surface antigens expressed on cells. These treatments reduce toxicities associated with current chemotherapeutics and have the potential for curative therapy. The Cellectis Group is focused on life sciences and use leading genome engineering technologies to build innovative products in various fields and markets. Cellectis is listed on the NYSE Alternext market (ticker: ALCLS). To find out more about us, visit our website: http://www.cellectis.com.

About Bayer CropScience Bayer is a global enterprise with core competencies in the fields of health care, agriculture and high-tech materials. Bayer CropScience, the subgroup of Bayer AG responsible for the agricultural business, has annual sales of EUR 8,383 million (2012) and is one of the worlds leading innovative crop science companies in the areas of seeds, crop protection and non-agricultural pest control. The company offers an outstanding range of products including high value seeds, innovative crop protection solutions based on chemical and biological modes of action as well as an extensive service backup for modern, sustainable agriculture. In the area of non-agricultural applications, Bayer CropScience has a broad portfolio of products and services to control pests from home and garden to forestry applications. The company has a global workforce of 20,800 and is represented in more than 120 countries. This and further news is available at: http://www.press.bayercropscience.com

Disclaimer This press release and the information contained herein do not constitute an offer to sell or subscribe, or a solicitation of an offer to buy or subscribe for shares in Cellectis in any country. This press release contains forward-looking statements that relate to the Companys objectives based on the current expectations and assumptions of the Companys management only and involve unforeseeable risk and uncertainties that could cause the Company to fail to achieve the objectives expressed by the forward-looking statements.

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Humanity could still carry up to 20 percent of the Neanderthal genome, say scientists

Posted: at 5:45 am

Even though the genomes of most modern-day non-African humans possess are just one or two percent Neanderthal,up to 20 percent of the Neanderthal genome could be found in today's humans collectively, new research suggests.

At least one-fifth of the Neanderthal genome may lurk within modern humans, influencing the skin, hair and diseases people have today, researchers say.

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Although modern humans are the only surviving human lineage, other groups of early humans used to live on Earth. The closest extinct relatives of modern humans were the Neanderthals, who lived in Europe and Asia until they went extinct about 40,000 years ago. The ancestors of modern humans diverged from those of Neanderthals between 550,000 and 765,000 years ago.

Recent findings revealed that Neanderthals interbred with ancestors of modern humans when modern humans began spreading out of Africa perhaps about 40,000 to 80,000 years ago, although some research suggests the migration began earlier. About 1.5 to 2.1 percent of the DNA of anyone outside Africa is Neanderthal in origin.

However, scientists reasoned that the Neanderthal DNA found in one person might not be the same Neanderthal DNA of someone else. [See Photos of Our Closest Human Ancestor]

"If you are 2 percent Neanderthal and I'm 2 percent Neanderthal, we might not have the same Neanderthal DNA between us," said study lead author Benjamin Vernot, a population geneticist at the University of Washington in Seattle. "We might have inherited different portions of the Neanderthal genome.

This logic suggested a significant portion of the Neanderthal genome might survive within the genomes of present-day humans. Past calculations suggested that anywhere from 35 to 70 percent of the Neanderthal genome could exist in modern people.

To find out just how much of the Neanderthal genome might hide within modern humans, Vernot and his colleague Joshua Akey analyzed the genomes of 379 European and 286 East Asian individuals. This involved identifying the DNA that didn't look modern human, and determining when that DNA was introduced into the genome.

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23andMe Helps Find New Genetic Associations For Asthma-With-Hay Fever

Posted: at 5:45 am

January 29, 2014

23andMe

First Ever Genome-Wide Association Study of Combined Phenotype May Allow for Improved Identification of Variants Associated with Asthma-With-Hay Fever

23andMe, the leading personal genetics company, has participated in the first ever genome-wide association study of the combined asthma-with-hay fever phenotype. Led by researchers at the QIMR Berghofer Medical Research Institute, the study identified 11 independent genetic markers associated with the development of asthma-with-hay fever, including two associations reaching a level of significance with allergic disease for the first time. Through these findings, 23andMe aims to substantially improve the ability to detect genetic risk factors shared between both diseases.

Previous research has shown that both asthma and hay fever share 50-90 percent of their genetic susceptibility and 20-50 percent of their environmental susceptibility. 23andMe has collected information on both conditions through its asthma symptoms survey, and in this analysis used data contributed by 15,072 of its customers. Data was also collected from three additional studies conducted in Australia and the United Kingdom, with cases defined as persons who reported a physician diagnosis of asthma and also hay fever (total N=6,685). This group was compared to a control group of individuals who reported neither a diagnosis of asthma or hay fever (total N=14,091).

While previous analyses provided evidence of a stronger genetic association of this combined phenotype, there has not been a genome-wide association study exploring the connection in further detail, said David Hinds, Ph.D., study author and 23andMe principal scientist, statistical genetics. In this first-of-its-kind study, weve identified new genetic associations that can provide the means to identify people at risk for allergic disease with greater efficiency.

By considering the phenotype of asthma-with-hay fever, 11 independent variants with genome-wide significant associations with disease risk were identified, amongst which were variants in the 8q21 and 16p13 regions, which have now been established as containing genetic risk factors for allergic disease. The study also found that genetic risk factors for allergic disease are located in or near variants ZBTB10 and CLEC16A. Further investigations of the entities underlying both associations may help identify previously unrecognized pathways in the development of asthma and hay fever.

The study, titled Genome-wide association analysis of the phenotype asthma-with-hay fever for 20,000 persons identified 11 risk loci, including variants near ZBTB10 and CLEC16A was published on January 2, 2014 in the Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology.

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Natural Cures For Eczema – Use These Methods to Eliminate Eczema – Video

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Natural Cures For Eczema - Use These Methods to Eliminate Eczema
http://www.VanishEczema.net Remedies For Eczema - Treat It The Natural Way http://www.VanishEczema.net Natural eczema treatments are not very well accepted b...

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