Do species really exist? Are genes destiny? Do only the fittest survive? Can we shape or stop evolution? New insights into nature are providing surprising answers, and a glorious new picture of life’s complexity
Source: Evolution is evolving: 13 ways we must rethink the theory of nature | New Scientist
The genomes of archaic hominins have been sequenced and compared with that of modern humans. However, most archaic individuals with high-quality sequences available have been female. Petr et al. performed targeted sequencing of the paternally inherited Y chromosomes from three Neanderthals and two Denisovans (see the Perspective by Schierup). Comparisons with available archaic and diverse modern human Y chromosomes indicated that, similar to the maternally inherited mitochondria, the human and Neanderthal Y chromosomes were more closely related to each other compared with the Denisovan Y chromosome. This result supports the conclusion that interbreeding between early humans and Neanderthals and selection replaced the more ancient Denisovian-like Y chromosome and mitochondria in Neanderthals.Science , this issue p. [1653][1]; see also p. [1565][2]Ancient DNA has provided new insights into many aspects of human history. However, we lack comprehensive studies of the Y chromosomes of Denisovans and Neanderthals because the majority of specimens that have been sequenced to sufficient coverage are female. Sequencing Y chromosomes from two Denisovans and three Neanderthals shows that the Y chromosomes of Denisovans split around 700 thousand years ago from a lineage shared by Neanderthals and modern human Y chromosomes, which diverged from each other around 370 thousand years ago. The phylogenetic relationships of archaic and modern human Y chromosomes differ from the population relationships inferred from the autosomal genomes and mirror mitochondrial DNA phylogenies, indicating replacement of both the mitochondrial and Y chromosomal gene pools in late Neanderthals. This replacement is plausible if the low effective population size of Neanderthals resulted in an increased genetic load in Neanderthals relative to modern humans. [1]: /lookup/doi/10.1126/science.abb6460 [2]: /lookup/doi/10.1126/science.abe2766
Source: The evolutionary history of Neanderthal and Denisovan Y chromosomes | Science
Do species really exist? Are genes destiny? Do only the fittest survive? Can we shape or stop evolution? New insights into nature are providing surprising answers, and a glorious new picture of life’s complexity
Source: Evolution is evolving: 13 ways we must rethink the theory of nature | New Scientist
Two new studies offer an explanation for why COVID-19 cases can be so variable. A subset of patients has mutations in key immunity genes; other patients have auto-antibodies that target the same components of the immune system. Both circumstances could contribute to severe forms of the disease.
An epidemiologist responds to two Harvard researchers who called for socialists to oppose lockdowns in the name of workers’ lives. But their argument, Michael Friedman insists, puts us all at risk – above all, workers.
Source: Yih and Kulldorff’s “Radical” Covid Strategy – Spectre Journal
I should take down this post: it is too confused. The comments on Hegelian dialectics are nonsensical.
Source: Darwinism as Hegelian Dialectics Applied to Biology | Evolution News
A gene variant that protects against malaria has spread rapidly among people living on the island of Santiago off West Africa
Source: People in Cape Verde evolved better malaria resistance in 550 years | New Scientist
By Richard Clark-Wilson | – Humanity originated on the African continent at least 300,000 years ago. We know from fossil …
Source: Prehistoric Arabia Felix: As Humans exited Africa 120K years ago, they headed into Green Nefud
The fossil record speaks clearly and cries out loud: the history of life on Earth is a history of saltations.
Source: Kimberella Is No Solution to the Cambrian Conundrum | Evolution News
