Wednesday, March 18, 2015

Genetic Resistance to Poison Promotes Natural Selection




The New York Times recently released an article that introduced research from the journal Molecular Biology and Evolution, reporting that natives from the Atacama Desert over time had become more resistant to arsenic. It is the first documented case of natural selection in humans for a defense against an environmental poison.
Researchers discovered that Atacameños detoxify arsenic at an abnormally high rate. This prompted Sweedish researchers to seek out the specific genes that enables Atacamenos livers to add extra carbon and hydrogen atoms to the arsenic molecules, so the kidneys can more easily flush.

Scientists sequenced over a million short segments of DNA in the women’s genomes from this region. Seeking genetic variants shared by the women who were able to tolerate more and flush arsenic.
The common thread was a fragment of DNA on chromosome 10 which contains a gene called AS3M. This gene encodes a liver enzyme for detoxification of poisons.

The Applied and Environmental Microbiology Journal takes a look at a few other genes which may also impact the resistance of arsenic in various bacteria.


In my opinion I think it may be extremely beneficial to take a look at the particular genes isolated in the bacteria and compare them with the genetic code of these resistant native women from the Atacama Desert.


1 comment:

  1. Great article! I had no idea humans could even be unaffected by such things today. It makes you wonder what other conditions future generations can withstand and if this "natural selection" can become an advantage or something to be feared.

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