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Neanderthal and Denisovan ancestry in Papuans: A functional study
Evgeny E Akkuratov1, Mikhail S Gelfand2,3,4,5, Ekaterina E Khrameeva2,3
1* St. Petersburg State University, Institute of Translational Biomedicine, St. Petersburg, Russia.
Journal of Bioinformatics and Computational Biology
|May 10, 2018
Summary
Papuan genomes uniquely contain both Neanderthal and Denisovan DNA. Neanderthal DNA influences gene regulation and neurogenesis, while Denisovan DNA impacts bone remodeling, suggesting independent introgression and adaptive benefits.
Area of Science:
- Paleogenomics
- Human Evolution
- Population Genetics
Background:
- Modern human genomes contain DNA from archaic humans like Neanderthals and Denisovans.
- The Papuan genome is notable for possessing alleles from both Neanderthal and Denisovan populations.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the distinct contributions of Neanderthal and Denisovan DNA to the Papuan genome.
- To identify specific gene functional groups associated with alleles inherited from each archaic human group.
Main Methods:
- Comparative genomics analysis of Papuan genomes.
- Identification and functional annotation of Neanderthal and Denisovan-derived alleles in Papuan DNA.
Main Results:
- Papuan genomes show a higher prevalence of Neanderthal alleles in genes related to transcription regulation and neurogenesis.
- Denisovan alleles are enriched in functional groups associated with bone and tissue remodeling.
- Evidence suggests independent introgression events of Neanderthal and Denisovan DNA into the Papuan lineage.
Conclusions:
- The Papuan genome harbors distinct functional gene sets inherited from Neanderthals and Denisovans.
- The differential retention of these archaic alleles may confer specific adaptive advantages to modern humans in certain environments.
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