How Native American DNA Adapted to European Diseases

During the 15^th century when the Americas became inhabited by European settlers, indigenous peoples were exposed to diseases new to their body systems, leading to death in masses of native Americans whose bodies could not defend themselves. Recent findings have informed us that those infectious diseases that once threatened their entire population have since “molded the immunes systems of today’s indigenous Americans, down to a genetic level” (Genetic Mark 1). Using whole exome sequencing, researchers were able to compare immune-related genes from skeletal remains of indigenous people living between 500 and 6000 years ago to DNA samples from indigenous people living today, both samples deriving from the Tsimshian group. The estimated genetic shift took place around 175 years ago, when variants less likely to fight off illnesses such as smallpox became less apparent in DNA samples. As the disease landscape became altered by the presence of more aggressive diseases, the genetic variants in indigenous people became adapted and more capable of defending against illnesses.

The European Natural Selection

Researchers have found the remains of Europeans who existed from 3,000 to 8,500 years ago. Each fossil suggests that many populations underwent changes in their genetic code, which researchers suggested as the European's "Natural Selection." With the use of 230 human fossils across that time frame, researchers found 12 spots of the human genome where this natural selection may have occurred. They believed that the inception of farming had much to do with these changes in the human genome.

The green circles are where the hunter gatherers were.
The blue circle is where the European farmers existed.
The red circle is where the Eurasian steppe population existed.

Northern Europeans have strong genetic linkage to nomadic Europeans who existed 4,500 years ago in the Eurasian steppe. Both of these groups have the trait of being very tall. In contrast, Southern Europeans were shorter, which was most likely because they started farming. Since they were required to remain in one place and handle sedentary work, the Southern Europeans would not have to pass down the genes that express the trait of being tall. They also developed lighter skin in order to efficiently absorb more sunlight from their work environment, and produce Vitamin D. The nomadic Europeans did not require light skin because the food that they hunted for provided all the Vitamin D that they required. Their newly developed genes enabled them to develop new enzymes that could metabolize fat and circulate Vitamin D. More research is being performed, but the present research brings much promise for understanding the ancestors of many Europeans.

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Genetically Modified Crops

European Parliament agreed on draft rules allowing individual governments to refuse growing genetically modified crops (GM) on their territory although the genetically modified crops have been authorized on the European levels. Although the Parliament believes many countries will take the opportunity to restrict GM crops, this plan will help reconcile anti- and pro-GM countries, unlock stalled approval processes, and lead to more GM crops in European fields.

Some issues that have arisen from GM crops were European consumers spurn GM foods and some national governments have tried outlawing GM foods. Also in the past decade, the disagreement among states has crippled regulatory decisions and some countries have seen their bans challenged in court by seed producers. This plan gives power to national governments which will avoid these issues.

Due to different views from European Parliament and GM opponents crucial amendments have been made to the draft rules. Parliamentarians proposed letting member states ban a given crop for a broader range of reasons, including environmental grounds, without putting in question EFSA’s science-based risk assessment.

Some significant changes are the committee in charge of environmental, public health, and food safety (ENVI) scrapped the member states’ proposal to involve seed companies directly in the banning process, which has outraged the environmental groups, and suggested letting member states ban groups of crops at once, instead of one by one. The Parliament also requires member states to take “appropriate measures to avoid the unintended presence of GMOs in other products on their territory and in border areas of neighboring Member states”. An example of this is creating buffer zones between GM and non-GM fields.

Before the year ends, The Parliament, the European Commission, and the Council of Ministers have now entered negotiations to settle on a joint version of the draft to agree on.

Not only should every individual have their own say on if they want to eat GM vs non-GM foods but this could potentially impact the export with America. This is really interesting but I believe every person should have the right to choose, I wouldn’t want to have to get up and move or try my hardest to get GM foods if more people in my individual government want non-GM crops/food.



Article: http://news.sciencemag.org/environment/2014/11/e-u-moves-closer-enabling-national-bans-gm-crops

Human Fossil Helps Determine Ancient Migratory Patterns.

             In recent weeks, archeological dig sites in Siberia have produced an ancient human femur bone has been found. Genetic sequencing of the leg bone dates it back to about 45,000 years ago. This is one of the oldest Human Genome pieces ever found. The Ust’-Ishim man has helped the mapping of ancient human migratory patterns out of Africa, which these scientists think may have started around 60,000 years ago.

            After sequencing of the bone, the scientists on this project also concluded that this ancient human is related to modern Asians, and early Europeans from 1,000’s of years ago. There was also Neanderthal DNA found which helps show that old humans interbred with the close relative. Around this time, it seems that there was a large amount of interbreeding between these two types of Humans.


Original Article: http://www.the-scientist.com/?articles.view/articleNo/41315/title/45-000-Year-Old-Bone-Sequenced/