Gene from extinct human helps Tibetans cope in high altitudes: study

[Crabtownboy]

Simply fascinating.

A US study has found the gene that allows Tibetans to cope with life at high altitudes came from an extinct species of human.


Many Tibetans are known to carry a special blood-diluting gene that enables them to cope with lack of oxygen in high mountains.


People without this variant would be apt to develop thick blood, leading to high blood pressure, heart attacks and strokes.


Scientists have discovered Tibetans carry a version of the gene in their DNA from Denisovans, a relative of modern-day humans who lived 50,000 years ago.


At elevations above 13,000 feet (4,000 metres), the common form of the gene boosts hemoglobin and red blood cell production, causing dangerous side effects.


The Tibetans' variant increases hemoglobin and red blood cell levels only modestly, sparing them these effects.


Denisovans are known from a single finger bone and two teeth found in a Siberian cave.


DNA testing on the 41,000-year-old bone indicated Denisovans were distinct from our species and Neanderthals.

http://www.abc.net.au/news/2014-07-...cies-fortifies-high-altitude-tibetans/5569246

 

[Walguy]

DNA testing on the 41,000-year-old bone indicated Denisovans were distinct from our species and Neanderthals [sic].

The problem with that is that Neandertals ARE our species, and so are these other 'extinct' humans. We're all Homo Sapiens, all fully human. And if genes from the 'Denisovans' are still extant, they aren't really extinct in the absolute sense, are they? Some modern humans are obviously their descendants. And all human genes go back to Adam and Eve, who were created by God with a tremendous potential for genetic variation. All the assigned ages included in this study were derived from beginning with the unproven (and unprovable, because it's not true) assumption of millions of years of evolution. The actual data fit just as well, if not better (as usual), into the Recent Creation model.

 

[Aaron]

Please don't take the bait, and please don't feed the commie.

 

[Walguy]

Sorry, I just thought the bad 'science' in that post needed refuting. I rarely bother arguing with any lib on matters of pure opinion, because it's usually about as fruitful as trying to reason with a 2 year old having a tantrum.

 

[Melanie]

That is interesting.....what would be more so, is how to escape Chinese ethnic cleansing of Tibetans....