Rajesh Ramachandran
ASSOCIATE PROFESSOR, IISER, MOHALI
This years Nobel Prize in physiology or medicine has been awarded to Prof Svante Pbo, Director of the Max Planck Institute for Evolutionary Anthropology, Leipzig, Germany. Pbos Nobel journey is somewhat similar to that of another Nobel laureate, Prof Venkatraman Ramakrishnan, a physicist by training, who received the prize in chemistry for his biological studies on ribosomes.
Pbo did research on the biology of adenoviruses and the immune system; he later shifted to genetics and genomics with a special focus on paleoanthropology to obtain the Nobel Prize for an apparently non-medical subject, but with huge medical implications.
Pbo is one of the founders of the scientific branch of paleogenetics, which deals with the characterisation of ancient genomes. Pbo focused on a high-risk, high-reward research where he studied human evolution with a particular focus on the Neanderthal man genome and discovered a previously unknown hominin, termed Denisovan.
Pbo devoted a lot of time and effort to prehistoric caves in search of ancient human remains. His success also emphasises the importance of basic scientific research in the modern world.
The human race originated from Africa and has made several migrations out of Africa, ranging from 50,000 years to 70,000 years ago. Homo sapiens, modern humans, originated in Africa 3,00,000 years ago. Our closest cousins, the Neanderthals, evolved in Europe and western Asia around 4,00,000 years ago and stayed until 30,000 years ago before becoming extinct. The migration of Homo sapiens from Africa occurred 40,000 years ago to West Asia and subsequently to the rest of the world. Homo sapiens and the Neanderthals overlapped in space and time in large parts of Eurasia for thousands of years. The lack of any Neanderthal data post 30,000 years ago had led to speculation of Homo sapiens wiping out the Neanderthals through competition.
But what was our relationship with the extinct Neanderthals? Answering this would require sequencing genomic DNA recovered from archaic specimens. Pbo, while working at the University of Munich, took the challenging task of sequencing ancient mitochondrial DNA from 40,000-year-old bone remains of Neanderthals and found that the Neanderthals were genetically distinct compared to modern humans and chimpanzees.
Pbo further assembled the ever-challenging task of building the Neanderthal genome and published the entire genome in 2010. Genome analysis suggested the independent origin of this human race outside Africa. However, the lineage of their ancestors dates back to Africa. Pbos study revealed the possibility of Homo sapiens interbreeding with Neanderthals, causing their genomic dilution that has left traces of their genome up to 4 per cent in modern-day humans. Genomic comparison studies demonstrated that the most recent common ancestor of Neanderthals and Homo sapiens could have lived around 8,00,000 years ago.
In 2008, Pbo sequenced the DNA from a well-preserved 40,000-year-old finger bone discovered in the Denisova cave in Siberia. The results were sensational as the DNA sequence was unique compared to Neanderthals and present-day humans. Pbo discovered a previously unknown hominin, Denisova. Further studies revealed that gene flow between Denisova and Homo sapiens also occurred. This feature is evident in the human population in Melanesia and other parts of South East Asia, where some individual genomes carry up to 6 per cent Denisova DNA.
Pbos discoveries have led to a novel understanding of the human evolutionary history. When Homo sapiens migrated out of Africa, there were at least two distinct and later extinct hominin populations inhabiting in Eurasia. The Neanderthals lived in western Eurasia, while their contemporary Denisovans thrived in the eastern part of the continent. The final expansion of Homo sapiens outside Africa towards the east was approximately 40,000 years ago; they encountered and interbred with Neanderthals and Denisovans.
Studies and discoveries of Pbo established an entirely new scientific discipline paleogenomics. These lines of evidence further strengthened the scientific communitys understanding of human evolution and migration.
Modern and robust methods for DNA sequence analysis support the view that archaic hominins have interbred with Homo sapiens in Africa. However, the tropical climate in Africa hinders the discovery of ancient DNA preserved from the bone remains of extinct hominins on that continent.
Pbos discoveries on archaic gene sequences of our extinct relatives suggest the influence of modern human physiology. For example, the EPAS1 gene, which confers survival advantage at high altitudes prevalent in present-day Tibetans links back to Denisovans. Several Neanderthal genes are responsible for our immunological response to different infections.
Although Homo sapiens could do complex tasks such as creative tool-making, figurative art, travel across the sea, social organisation and communication, they often lacked the physical endurance and body mass found in Neanderthals. Successful cross-breeding of Homo sapiens and Neanderthals would have allowed better survival in the harsh Eurasian climate. The genetic link between Homo sapiens and our closest extinct relatives, Neanderthals and Denisovans, was unknown until it was established through Pbos epic work. Further to his discoveries, the focus is on analysing the functional implications of differences among Homo sapiens, Neanderthals and Denisovans, with the primary goal of knowing more about how humans evolved as a successful species.
The migration of Homo sapiens out of Africa is an important topic in human evolutionary history. The current belief that our species originated from Africa and spread out to occupy much of Eurasia before colonising the rest of the world is also well supported by Indian studies. Studies by the Indian Statistical Institute and other research laboratories have supported the idea that India was a major corridor for the spread of early humans as early as 1,00,000 years ago, although the exact timeframe of human colonisation in India remains unknown.
A study by the Centre for Cellular and Molecular Biology, Hyderabad, has proven that the Andamanese tribe has closer affinities with the Asian population than with the African population, while the Nicobarese have genetic links to populations throughout Asia today.
Read more from the original source:
From cave-dweller scientist to Nobel laureate - The Tribune India
- 8: Techniques of Molecular Genetics - Biology LibreTexts - January 23rd, 2024
- Molecular Genetics and Metabolism Reports - ScienceDirect - December 18th, 2022
- Molecular Genetics and Metabolism | Journal - ScienceDirect - December 18th, 2022
- Molecular clock - Wikipedia - December 2nd, 2022
- Molecular Structure of Nucleic Acids: A Structure for Deoxyribose ... - December 2nd, 2022
- Molecular Genetics School of Graduate Studies - University of Toronto - October 13th, 2022
- Molecular pathways of major depressive disorder converge on the synapse | Molecular Psychiatry - Nature.com - October 13th, 2022
- Can artificial intelligence help identify best treatments for cancers? LSU researchers say yes - The Advocate - October 13th, 2022
- Results for the fiscal year on June 30, 2022 - Yahoo Finance - October 13th, 2022
- From the journals: MCP - ASBMB Today - October 13th, 2022
- Animal Genetics Market - Know the Revenue and Profit-Sources of the Industry - openPR - October 13th, 2022
- Molecular and Cell Biology and Genetics - Master of Science / PhD ... - September 25th, 2022
- What does the future hold for COVID-19? - UCLA Health Connect - September 25th, 2022
- Farooq Kperogi: Lies and truth about Obi, Atiku, and Tinubu - Peoples Gazette - September 25th, 2022
- Atavistik Bio Announces Formation of Scientific Advisory Board - Business Wire - September 25th, 2022
- Scientific Advances Point to Improved Understanding of Radiation Exposure - Livermore Independent - September 25th, 2022
- 19 million to investigate bold ideas in bioscience research - EurekAlert - September 25th, 2022
- Machel, Iwer among full list of National Awardees - Trinidad Guardian - September 25th, 2022
- Newly Discovered Protein Connected to Alzheimers Disease Risk - Neuroscience News - September 25th, 2022
- The Lab Report: Sharma Lab studies biodiversity of arachnids - The Badger Herald - September 16th, 2022
- Environmental Scientist Jesse Ausubel to Receive 2022 Nierenberg Prize for Science in the Public Interest - Scripps Institution of Oceanography - September 16th, 2022
- Malaria vax promising, to be cheap too - The Hans India - September 16th, 2022
- Dayton Therapeutics Discovers New Therapeutic Uses of Satraplatin for Treatment of Rare Lymphomas - StreetInsider.com - September 16th, 2022
- JNCASRs novel molecule prevents obesity in mice - The Hindu - September 16th, 2022
- Research Fellow in the Department of Medical and Molecular Genetics job with KINGS COLLEGE LONDON | 308234 - Times Higher Education - September 8th, 2022
- Seven Queen's researchers elected to the Royal Society of Canada - Queen's University - September 8th, 2022
- Molecular Biology with an Industrial Placement Year BSc - India Education Diary - September 8th, 2022
- Whole Exome Sequencing Market Projected to Reach CAGR of 19.0% Forecast by 2029, Global Trends, Size, Share, Growth, Future Scope and Key Player... - September 8th, 2022
- Molecular prevalence and genetic diversity of Bartonella spp. in stray cats of zmir, Turkey - Parasites & Vectors - Parasites & Vectors - August 30th, 2022
- How light and temperature work together to affect plant growth - EurekAlert - August 30th, 2022
- Ancient Mummies' Lousy View of the Past - The Scientist - August 30th, 2022
- 'Gray blanket' over Australia: Genetics may have aided European rabbit invasion of continent in 1859, says study - Down To Earth Magazine - August 30th, 2022
- Meet the UNC Pembroke professor leading research on Alzheimers disease - The Robesonian - August 30th, 2022
- Massive Genome Study Informs the Biology of Reading and Language - Neuroscience News - August 30th, 2022
- People in the News at Gencove, IsoPlexis, HTG Molecular, More - GenomeWeb - August 30th, 2022
- Professor (with Head of Department potential), Department of Medical & Molecular Genetics job with KINGS COLLEGE LONDON | 304203 - Times Higher... - August 14th, 2022
- Kathy C. Cordes, a former Baltimore Sun artist who later worked at NASA's Space Telescope Institute, dies Baltimore Sun - Baltimore Sun - August 14th, 2022
- Discovery of the interactions between plants and arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi - EurekAlert - August 14th, 2022
- A new drug could repair stroke damage to memory and movement - Freethink - August 14th, 2022
- CDC Says Recent Flu Season Mild, Maybe Owing to COVID Precautions - Medscape - August 14th, 2022
- Study Using NanoStrings GeoMx Digital Spatial Profiler Featured on the Cover of Nature Genetics - BioSpace - August 14th, 2022
- New virus detected in China; here's everything you need to know about it - WCCO - August 14th, 2022
- Relief Therapeutics and Acer Therapeutics Announce that the European Commission Has Granted Orphan Drug Designation for ACER-001 in Maple Syrup Urine... - August 14th, 2022
- Psychiatry, Fraud, and the Case for a Class-Action Lawsuit - Mad In America - Mad in America - August 14th, 2022
- Scientists Grow Mouse Embryos Without Sperm Or Eggs - EverythingGP - August 14th, 2022
- The Pitfalls of Evolutionary Genomics - SciTechDaily - August 14th, 2022
- How a simple home DNA test unravelled the genetic code that could help prolong my life - The National - August 14th, 2022
- Graduate Research Officer job with UNIVERSITY OF WESTERN AUSTRALIA | 304277 - Times Higher Education - August 14th, 2022
- These Are the Degrees of the Future - Gizmodo - August 14th, 2022
- University of Chicago obituaries - University of Chicago - August 14th, 2022
- Letter: Abortion and social planning - Daily Herald - August 14th, 2022
- Postdoctoral Researcher, Seaweed Molecular Biology, Physiology and Genetics, Ryan Institute, School job with NATIONAL UNIVERSITY OF IRELAND, GALWAY |... - August 5th, 2022
- Researchers crack 30-year-old mystery of odour switching in worms - University of Toronto - August 5th, 2022
- 1st synthetic mouse embryos complete with beating hearts and brains created with no sperm, eggs or womb - Livescience.com - August 5th, 2022
- Rallybio Appoints Wendy K. Chung, M.D., Ph.D., to Its Board of Directors - Business Wire - August 5th, 2022
- Luke Goldman: Using eDNA to save the Atlantic cod - UMaine News - University of Maine - University of Maine - August 5th, 2022
- Duke Announces Winners of the 2022 DST Spark Seed Grants - Duke Today - July 27th, 2022
- WVXU: UC scientists are deep-freezing molecules. Here's why they're so excited about it - University of Cincinnati - July 27th, 2022
- Better Diagnosis and Treatment: Genetic Clues to Age-Related Macular Degeneration - SciTechDaily - July 27th, 2022
- Regeneron Announces the 2022 Winners of the Regeneron Prize for Creative Innovation - PR Newswire - July 27th, 2022
- Replay Launches with $55 Million Seed to Reprogram Biology by Writing and Delivering Big DNA - GlobeNewswire - July 27th, 2022
- How is Biotechnology revolutionising food and beverage industry? - The Statesman - July 27th, 2022
- ACP offers guidance on the ethical use of genetic testing and precision medicine - EurekAlert - July 27th, 2022
- Barbour Appointed Dean of The Graduate School and Vice Provost for Graduate Education - Duke Today - July 19th, 2022
- UC scientists are deep-freezing molecules. Here's why they're so excited about it - WVXU - July 19th, 2022
- Research Fellow, Molecular Biology / Recombinant Protein Production and Purification (Biol Sci) job with NATIONAL UNIVERSITY OF SINGAPORE | 301436 -... - July 19th, 2022
- UF researchers discover new way to inhibit virus that causes COVID-19 - University of Florida - July 19th, 2022
- Streamlined Genomic Testing Platforms Are Taking on A Bigger Role in Cancer Care - OncLive - July 19th, 2022
- Bachelor of Science in Biology - National University - July 19th, 2022
- Genes may influence our successes and failures in life, according to Professor Kathryn Paige Harden - ABC News - July 19th, 2022
- Lecturer for Department of Experimental Biology job with MASARYK UNIVERSITY | 301048 - Times Higher Education - July 19th, 2022
- Lecturer in Biology (Education Focused) job with UNIVERSITY OF SYDNEY | 300815 - Times Higher Education - July 19th, 2022
- People's University Is All About Dinosaurs This Summer - Wheeling Intelligencer - July 19th, 2022
- Radiologists hope to use AI to improve readings - University of Miami: News@theU - July 19th, 2022
- Rare Disease Genetic Testing Market 2022 Emerging Trends, Comprehensive Study With Top Companies and Key Players till 2030 - Taiwan News - July 11th, 2022
- Proteases implicated in ulcerative colitis - ASBMB Today - July 11th, 2022
- Cancer has been a scourge for centuries, advances in science have made the disease far less intractable - The Indian Express - July 11th, 2022
- Scientists discover key genes behind insect migrations - EurekAlert - July 11th, 2022
- Neuroimaging Techniques and What a Brain Image Can Tell Us - Technology Networks - July 11th, 2022
- New Research Finally Proves That Coffee Is Safe During Pregnancy - SciTechDaily - July 11th, 2022