Date Published: December 18th, 2013
Link: http://www.livescience.com/42056-neanderthal-woman-genome-sequenced.html
Summary:
Recently, scientists sequenced the nuclear DNA in a toe bone found within the Denisova cave in southern Siberia. The 50 sequences preformed revealed that the bone belonged to a Neanderthal woman. Researchers compared DNA sequences between modern humans, Neanderthals and the human relatives, Denisovans. By doing so they found both Neanderthal and Denisovans. Their findings helped to prove that interbreeding occurred among different human lineages.
Scientists have also discovered that Denisovans interbred with a mysterious human lineage. Apparently the unknown relative split from ancestors of modern humans before later groups such as Neanderthals or Denisovans did. Homo erectus, the earliest predecessor of modern humans, could possibly be the unknown lineage.
Researchers compared the genomes of Neanderthals, Denisovans and modern humans in order to identify genetic changes that set modern humans apart from their ancestors. A number of the changes found have to with brain development and may have played a role in the survival and success of modern humans.
Relevance:
This article is relevant to our recent unit on evolution. Specifically, this article discusses using DNA comparison to prove ancestral relation. We have learned about using DNA comparison and homologous structures to identify wether or not species are related. In the article researchers take DNA from fossils they have discovered and compare it to the DNA of another species in order to see when a specific species diverged from others. Depending on how many genes are shared by the two species, one can tell how distantly related they are. Researchers also compared the genomes of two species to see what set one apart from another, as we read about. The article also discusses human lineage, and the human family tree, we have learned about tracing lineage and phylogenic trees, which are used to show how species are related and where they diverge. We have also learned about fossils and the fossil record, which researchers used to get DNA in the article.
Scientists have also discovered that Denisovans interbred with a mysterious human lineage. Apparently the unknown relative split from ancestors of modern humans before later groups such as Neanderthals or Denisovans did. Homo erectus, the earliest predecessor of modern humans, could possibly be the unknown lineage.
Researchers compared the genomes of Neanderthals, Denisovans and modern humans in order to identify genetic changes that set modern humans apart from their ancestors. A number of the changes found have to with brain development and may have played a role in the survival and success of modern humans.
Relevance:
This article is relevant to our recent unit on evolution. Specifically, this article discusses using DNA comparison to prove ancestral relation. We have learned about using DNA comparison and homologous structures to identify wether or not species are related. In the article researchers take DNA from fossils they have discovered and compare it to the DNA of another species in order to see when a specific species diverged from others. Depending on how many genes are shared by the two species, one can tell how distantly related they are. Researchers also compared the genomes of two species to see what set one apart from another, as we read about. The article also discusses human lineage, and the human family tree, we have learned about tracing lineage and phylogenic trees, which are used to show how species are related and where they diverge. We have also learned about fossils and the fossil record, which researchers used to get DNA in the article.
"A number of the changes found have to with brain development and may have played a role in the survival and success of modern humans." How recently did humans acquire the changes that allowed them to evolve to modern day people?
ReplyDeleteWell, human ancestors would have under gone these changes approximately 200,000 years ago, around the time when homo sapiens appeared.
ReplyDelete