1
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Housman G. Advances in skeletal genomics research across tissues and cells. Curr Opin Genet Dev 2024; 88:102245. [PMID: 39180931 DOI: 10.1016/j.gde.2024.102245] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/22/2024] [Revised: 07/25/2024] [Accepted: 08/05/2024] [Indexed: 08/27/2024]
Abstract
Phenotypic variation within the skeleton has biological, behavioral, and biomedical functional implications for individuals and species. Thus, it is critical to understand how genomic, environmental, and mediating regulatory factors combine and interact to drive skeletal trait development and evolution. Recent research efforts to clarify these mechanisms have been made possible by expanded collections of genomic and phenotypic data from in vivo skeletal tissues, as well as the development of relevant in vitro skeletal cell culture systems. This review outlines this current work and recommends that continued exploration of this complexity should include an increased focus on how interactions between genomic and physiologically relevant contexts contribute to skeletal trait variation at population and evolutionary scales.
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Affiliation(s)
- Genevieve Housman
- Department of Primate Behavior and Evolution, Max Planck Institute for Evolutionary Anthropology, Deutscher Platz 6, 04103 Leipzig, Germany.
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2
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Relethford JH. Craniometric variation and the ancestry of modern humans. AMERICAN JOURNAL OF BIOLOGICAL ANTHROPOLOGY 2024:e25028. [PMID: 39288002 DOI: 10.1002/ajpa.25028] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/30/2024] [Revised: 08/27/2024] [Accepted: 09/05/2024] [Indexed: 09/19/2024]
Abstract
OBJECTIVES Ancient and contemporary DNA provide information about geographic variation in the ancestry of present-day humans. All living populations have ancestry from early Homo sapiens originating in sub-Saharan Africa. Populations of Eurasian descent also have a small amount of Neandertal ancestry. This study examines whether craniometric distances between recent modern human samples reflect this geographic variation in ancestry. Among recent modern humans, Eurasians are expected to be more similar to Neandertals, whereas both sub-Saharan Africans and Eurasians are expected to be equidistant from early H. sapiens. MATERIALS AND METHODS Data on 33 craniometric traits from 2524 recent modern humans were compared with data from the literature for Neandertals and early H. sapiens. Mahalanobis distances were computed for each modern specimen to both the Neandertal and early H. sapiens means. These distances were examined for differences between recent humans from sub-Saharan Africa (N = 373) and those of Eurasian descent (N = 2151). RESULTS Eurasians as a group are significantly closer than sub-Saharan Africans to Neandertals. There is no significant difference between the distances of sub-Saharan Africans and Eurasians to early H. sapiens. DISCUSSION The differences between sub-Saharan Africans and Eurasians for both Neandertals and early H. sapiens are as expected. Although there has been geographic differentiation among recent modern humans, including differences in Neandertal admixture, these differences have not affected overall similarity of recent modern sub-Saharan Africans and Eurasians to the earliest samples of H. sapiens.
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Affiliation(s)
- John H Relethford
- Department of Anthropology, State University of New York at Oneonta, Oneonta, New York, USA
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3
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Du S, Chen J, Li J, Qian W, Wu S, Peng Q, Liu Y, Pan T, Li Y, Hadi SS, Tan J, Yuan Z, Wang J, Tang K, Wang Z, Wen Y, Dong X, Zhou W, Ruiz-Linares A, Shi Y, Jin L, Liu F, Zhang M, Wang S. A multi-ancestry GWAS meta-analysis of facial features and its application in predicting archaic human features. J Genet Genomics 2024:S1673-8527(24)00181-4. [PMID: 39002897 DOI: 10.1016/j.jgg.2024.07.005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/04/2024] [Revised: 07/06/2024] [Accepted: 07/06/2024] [Indexed: 07/15/2024]
Abstract
Facial morphology, a complex trait influenced by genetics, holds great significance in evolutionary research. However, due to limited fossil evidence, the facial characteristics of Neanderthals and Denisovans have remained largely unknown. In this study, we conducted a large-scale multi-ethnic meta-analysis of the genome-wide association study (GWAS), including 9674 East Asians and 10,115 Europeans, quantitatively assessing 78 facial traits using 3D facial images. We identified 71 genomic loci associated with facial features, including 21 novel loci. We developed a facial polygenic score (FPS) that enables the prediction of facial features based on genetic information. Interestingly, the distribution of FPSs among populations from diverse continental groups exhibited relevant correlations with observed facial features. Furthermore, we applied the FPS to predict the facial traits of seven Neanderthals and one Denisovan using ancient DNA and aligned predictions with the fossil records. Our results suggested that Neanderthals and Denisovans likely shared similar facial features, such as a wider but shorter nose and a wider endocanthion distance. The decreased mouth width was characterized specifically in Denisovans. The integration of genomic data and facial trait analysis provides valuable insights into the evolutionary history and adaptive changes in human facial morphology.
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Affiliation(s)
- Siyuan Du
- CAS Key Laboratory of Computational Biology, Shanghai Institute of Nutrition and Health, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, 320 Yue Yang Road, Shanghai 200031, China; Bio-X Institutes, Key Laboratory for the Genetics of Developmental and Neuropsychiatric Disorders, Ministry of Education, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai 200030, China
| | - Jieyi Chen
- CAS Key Laboratory of Computational Biology, Shanghai Institute of Nutrition and Health, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, 320 Yue Yang Road, Shanghai 200031, China; Center for Molecular Medicine, Pediatrics Research Institute, Children's Hospital of Fudan University, Shanghai 201102, China
| | - Jiarui Li
- CAS Key Laboratory of Computational Biology, Shanghai Institute of Nutrition and Health, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, 320 Yue Yang Road, Shanghai 200031, China
| | - Wei Qian
- CAS Key Laboratory of Computational Biology, Shanghai Institute of Nutrition and Health, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, 320 Yue Yang Road, Shanghai 200031, China
| | - Sijie Wu
- CAS Key Laboratory of Computational Biology, Shanghai Institute of Nutrition and Health, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, 320 Yue Yang Road, Shanghai 200031, China
| | - Qianqian Peng
- CAS Key Laboratory of Computational Biology, Shanghai Institute of Nutrition and Health, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, 320 Yue Yang Road, Shanghai 200031, China
| | - Yu Liu
- CAS Key Laboratory of Computational Biology, Shanghai Institute of Nutrition and Health, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, 320 Yue Yang Road, Shanghai 200031, China
| | - Ting Pan
- Bio-X Institutes, Key Laboratory for the Genetics of Developmental and Neuropsychiatric Disorders, Ministry of Education, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai 200030, China
| | - Yi Li
- CAS Key Laboratory of Computational Biology, Shanghai Institute of Nutrition and Health, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, 320 Yue Yang Road, Shanghai 200031, China
| | - Sibte Syed Hadi
- Department of Forensic Sciences, College of Criminal Justice, Naif Arab University for Security Sciences, Riyadh 11452, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia
| | - Jingze Tan
- Ministry of Education Key Laboratory of Contemporary Anthropology, Collaborative Innovation Center for Genetics and Development, School of Life Sciences, Fudan University, Shanghai 200438, China
| | - Ziyu Yuan
- Fudan-Taizhou Institute of Health Sciences, Taizhou, Jiangsu 225326, China
| | - Jiucun Wang
- Fudan-Taizhou Institute of Health Sciences, Taizhou, Jiangsu 225326, China; Key Laboratory of Genetic Engineering, Human Phenome Institute, Zhangjiang Fudan International Innovation Center, Fudan University, Shanghai 200120, China; Research Unit of Dissecting the Population Genetics and Developing New Technologies for Treatment and Prevention of Skin Phenotypes and Dermatological Diseases (2019RU058), Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Shanghai 200438, China
| | - Kun Tang
- CAS Key Laboratory of Computational Biology, Shanghai Institute of Nutrition and Health, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, 320 Yue Yang Road, Shanghai 200031, China
| | - Zhuo Wang
- Bio-X Institutes, Key Laboratory for the Genetics of Developmental and Neuropsychiatric Disorders, Ministry of Education, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai 200030, China
| | - Yanqin Wen
- Bio-X Institutes, Key Laboratory for the Genetics of Developmental and Neuropsychiatric Disorders, Ministry of Education, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai 200030, China
| | - Xinran Dong
- Center for Molecular Medicine, Pediatrics Research Institute, Children's Hospital of Fudan University, Shanghai 201102, China
| | - Wenhao Zhou
- Center for Molecular Medicine, Pediatrics Research Institute, Children's Hospital of Fudan University, Shanghai 201102, China; Guangzhou Women and Children's Medical Center, Guangzhou Medical University, Guangzhou, Guangdong 510623, China
| | - Andrés Ruiz-Linares
- Ministry of Education Key Laboratory of Contemporary Anthropology, Collaborative Innovation Center for Genetics and Development, School of Life Sciences, Fudan University, Shanghai 200438, China; Aix-Marseille Université, CNRS, EFS, ADES, Marseille 13005, France; Department of Genetics, Evolution and Environment, and UCL Genetics Institute, University College London, London WC1E 6BT, UK
| | - Yongyong Shi
- Bio-X Institutes, Key Laboratory for the Genetics of Developmental and Neuropsychiatric Disorders, Ministry of Education, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai 200030, China
| | - Li Jin
- Fudan-Taizhou Institute of Health Sciences, Taizhou, Jiangsu 225326, China; Key Laboratory of Genetic Engineering, Human Phenome Institute, Zhangjiang Fudan International Innovation Center, Fudan University, Shanghai 200120, China; Research Unit of Dissecting the Population Genetics and Developing New Technologies for Treatment and Prevention of Skin Phenotypes and Dermatological Diseases (2019RU058), Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Shanghai 200438, China
| | - Fan Liu
- Department of Forensic Sciences, College of Criminal Justice, Naif Arab University for Security Sciences, Riyadh 11452, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia; Department of Genetic Identification, Erasmus MC University Medical Center Rotterdam, 3015 CN Rotterdam, the Netherlands
| | - Manfei Zhang
- CAS Key Laboratory of Computational Biology, Shanghai Institute of Nutrition and Health, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, 320 Yue Yang Road, Shanghai 200031, China; Bio-X Institutes, Key Laboratory for the Genetics of Developmental and Neuropsychiatric Disorders, Ministry of Education, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai 200030, China; Key Laboratory of Genetic Engineering, Human Phenome Institute, Zhangjiang Fudan International Innovation Center, Fudan University, Shanghai 200120, China.
| | - Sijia Wang
- CAS Key Laboratory of Computational Biology, Shanghai Institute of Nutrition and Health, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, 320 Yue Yang Road, Shanghai 200031, China; Center for Excellence in Animal Evolution and Genetics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Kunming, Yunnan 650223, China.
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4
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Yermakovich D, André M, Brucato N, Kariwiga J, Leavesley M, Pankratov V, Mondal M, Ricaut FX, Dannemann M. Denisovan admixture facilitated environmental adaptation in Papua New Guinean populations. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2024; 121:e2405889121. [PMID: 38889149 PMCID: PMC11214076 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.2405889121] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/21/2024] [Accepted: 05/16/2024] [Indexed: 06/20/2024] Open
Abstract
Neandertals and Denisovans, having inhabited distinct regions in Eurasia and possibly Oceania for over 200,000 y, experienced ample time to adapt to diverse environmental challenges these regions presented. Among present-day human populations, Papua New Guineans (PNG) stand out as one of the few carrying substantial amounts of both Neandertal and Denisovan DNA, a result of past admixture events with these archaic human groups. This study investigates the distribution of introgressed Denisovan and Neandertal DNA within two distinct PNG populations, residing in the highlands of Mt Wilhelm and the lowlands of Daru Island. These locations exhibit unique environmental features, some of which may parallel the challenges that archaic humans once confronted and adapted to. Our results show that PNG highlanders carry higher levels of Denisovan DNA compared to PNG lowlanders. Among the Denisovan-like haplotypes with higher frequencies in highlander populations, those exhibiting the greatest frequency difference compared to lowlander populations also demonstrate more pronounced differences in population frequencies than frequency-matched nonarchaic variants. Two of the five most highly differentiated of those haplotypes reside in genomic areas linked to brain development genes. Conversely, Denisovan-like haplotypes more frequent in lowlanders overlap with genes associated with immune response processes. Our findings suggest that Denisovan DNA has provided genetic variation associated with brain biology and immune response to PNG genomes, some of which might have facilitated adaptive processes to environmental challenges.
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Affiliation(s)
- Danat Yermakovich
- Center of Genomics, Evolution and Medicine, Institute of Genomics, University of Tartu, Tartu51010, Estonia
| | - Mathilde André
- Center of Genomics, Evolution and Medicine, Institute of Genomics, University of Tartu, Tartu51010, Estonia
| | - Nicolas Brucato
- Centre de Recherche sur la Biodiversité et l'Environnement, Université de Toulouse, Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique, Institut de Recherche pour le Développement, Toulouse Institut National Polytechnique, Université Toulouse 3–Paul Sabatier, cedex 9, Toulouse31062, France
| | - Jason Kariwiga
- Strand of Anthropology, Sociology and Archaeology, School of Humanities and Social Sciences, University of Papua New Guinea, PO Box 320, University 134, National Capital District, Papua New Guinea
- School of Social Science, University of Queensland, St. Lucia, QLD4072, Australia
| | - Matthew Leavesley
- Strand of Anthropology, Sociology and Archaeology, School of Humanities and Social Sciences, University of Papua New Guinea, PO Box 320, University 134, National Capital District, Papua New Guinea
- The Australian Research Council Centre of Excellence for Australian Biodiversity and Heritage & College of Arts, Society and Education, James Cook University, Cairns, QLD4870, Australia
| | - Vasili Pankratov
- Center of Genomics, Evolution and Medicine, Institute of Genomics, University of Tartu, Tartu51010, Estonia
| | - Mayukh Mondal
- Center of Genomics, Evolution and Medicine, Institute of Genomics, University of Tartu, Tartu51010, Estonia
- Institute of Clinical Molecular Biology, Christian-Albrechts-Universität zu Kiel, Kiel24118, Germany
| | - François-Xavier Ricaut
- Centre de Recherche sur la Biodiversité et l'Environnement, Université de Toulouse, Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique, Institut de Recherche pour le Développement, Toulouse Institut National Polytechnique, Université Toulouse 3–Paul Sabatier, cedex 9, Toulouse31062, France
| | - Michael Dannemann
- Center of Genomics, Evolution and Medicine, Institute of Genomics, University of Tartu, Tartu51010, Estonia
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5
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Gokhman D, Harris KD, Carmi S, Greenbaum G. Predicting the direction of phenotypic difference. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2024:2024.02.22.581566. [PMID: 38895291 PMCID: PMC11185551 DOI: 10.1101/2024.02.22.581566] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/21/2024]
Abstract
Predicting phenotypes from genomic data is a key goal in genetics, but for most complex phenotypes, predictions are hampered by incomplete genotype-to-phenotype mapping. Here, we describe a more attainable approach than quantitative predictions, which is aimed at qualitatively predicting phenotypic differences. Despite incomplete genotype-to-phenotype mapping, we show that it is relatively easy to determine which of two individuals has a greater phenotypic value. This question is central in many scenarios, e.g., comparing disease risk between individuals, the yield of crop strains, or the anatomy of extinct vs extant species. To evaluate prediction accuracy, i.e., the probability that the individual with the greater predicted phenotype indeed has a greater phenotypic value, we developed an estimator of the ratio between known and unknown effects on the phenotype. We evaluated prediction accuracy using human data from tens of thousands of individuals from either the same family or the same population, as well as data from different species. We found that, in many cases, even when only a small fraction of the loci affecting a phenotype is known, the individual with the greater phenotypic value can be identified with over 90% accuracy. Our approach also circumvents some of the limitations in transferring genetic association results across populations. Overall, we introduce an approach that enables accurate predictions of key information on phenotypes - the direction of phenotypic difference - and suggest that more phenotypic information can be extracted from genomic data than previously appreciated.
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Affiliation(s)
- David Gokhman
- Department of Molecular Genetics, The Weizmann Institute of Science, Rehovot 76100, Israel
| | - Keith D Harris
- Department of Ecology, Evolution and Behavior, The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Jerusalem 91904, Israel
| | - Shai Carmi
- Braun School of Public Health and Community Medicine, The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Jerusalem 9112102, Israel
| | - Gili Greenbaum
- Department of Ecology, Evolution and Behavior, The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Jerusalem 91904, Israel
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6
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Funato N, Heliövaara A, Boeckx C. A regulatory variant impacting TBX1 expression contributes to basicranial morphology in Homo sapiens. Am J Hum Genet 2024; 111:939-953. [PMID: 38608674 PMCID: PMC11080286 DOI: 10.1016/j.ajhg.2024.03.012] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/30/2023] [Revised: 03/13/2024] [Accepted: 03/15/2024] [Indexed: 04/14/2024] Open
Abstract
Changes in gene regulatory elements play critical roles in human phenotypic divergence. However, identifying the base-pair changes responsible for the distinctive morphology of Homo sapiens remains challenging. Here, we report a noncoding single-nucleotide polymorphism (SNP), rs41298798, as a potential causal variant contributing to the morphology of the skull base and vertebral structures found in Homo sapiens. Screening for differentially regulated genes between Homo sapiens and extinct relatives revealed 13 candidate genes associated with basicranial development, with TBX1, implicated in DiGeorge syndrome, playing a pivotal role. Epigenetic markers and in silico analyses prioritized rs41298798 within a TBX1 intron for functional validation. CRISPR editing revealed that the 41-base-pair region surrounding rs41298798 modulates gene expression at 22q11.21. The derived allele of rs41298798 acts as an allele-specific enhancer mediated by E2F1, resulting in increased TBX1 expression levels compared to the ancestral allele. Tbx1-knockout mice exhibited skull base and vertebral abnormalities similar to those seen in DiGeorge syndrome. Phenotypic differences associated with TBX1 deficiency are observed between Homo sapiens and Neanderthals (Homo neanderthalensis). In conclusion, the regulatory divergence of TBX1 contributes to the formation of skull base and vertebral structures found in Homo sapiens.
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Affiliation(s)
- Noriko Funato
- Department of Signal Gene Regulation, Graduate School of Medical and Dental Sciences, Tokyo Medical and Dental University (TMDU), Yushima 1-5-45, Bunkyo-ku 113-8510, Tokyo, Japan; Research Core, Tokyo Medical and Dental University (TMDU), Yushima 1-5-45, Bunkyo-ku 113-8510, Tokyo, Japan.
| | - Arja Heliövaara
- Cleft Palate and Craniofacial Center, Department of Plastic Surgery, Helsinki University Hospital and Helsinki University, Stenbäckinkatu 11, P.O. Box 281, Helsinki FI-00029 HUS, Finland
| | - Cedric Boeckx
- Catalan Institute for Advanced Studies and Research (ICREA), Passeig de Lluís Companys, 23, 08010 Barcelona, Spain; Section of General Linguistics, University of Barcelona, Gran Via de les Corts Catalanes 585, 08007 Barcelona, Spain; University of Barcelona Institute for Complex Systems, Gran Via de les Corts Catalanes 585, 08007 Barcelona, Spain; University of Barcelona Institute of Neurosciences, Gran Via de les Corts Catalanes 585, 08007 Barcelona, Spain
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7
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Zhang Y, Urciuoli A, Zanolli C, Kullmer O, Wu X. Three-dimensional geometric morphometric analysis of the bony labyrinth of Xujiayao 6. J Hum Evol 2024; 189:103514. [PMID: 38547737 DOI: 10.1016/j.jhevol.2024.103514] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/17/2023] [Revised: 02/17/2024] [Accepted: 02/17/2024] [Indexed: 04/08/2024]
Affiliation(s)
- Yameng Zhang
- Joint International Research Laboratory of Environmental and Social Archaeology, Shandong University, Qingdao, 266237, China; Institute of Cultural Heritage, Shandong University, Qingdao, 266237, China
| | - Alessandro Urciuoli
- Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Campus de la UAB, 08193 Cerdanyola del Vallès, Barcelona, Spain; Institut Català de Paleontologia Miquel Crusafont (ICP-CERCA), Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Edifici ICTA-ICP, c/ Columnes s/n, 08193 Cerdanyola del Vallès, Barcelona, Spain; Division of Palaeoanthropology, Senckenberg Research Institute and Natural History Museum Frankfurt, Senckenberganlage 25, 60325, Frankfurt am Main, Germany; Universidad de Alcalá, Cátedra de Otoacústica Evolutiva y Paleoantropología (HM Hospitales-UAH), Departamento de Ciencias de la Vida, 28871, Alcalá de Henares, Madrid, Spain.
| | - Clément Zanolli
- Univ. Bordeaux, CNRS, MCC, PACEA, UMR 5199, F-33600, Pessac, France
| | - Ottmar Kullmer
- Division of Palaeoanthropology, Senckenberg Research Institute and Natural History Museum Frankfurt, Senckenberganlage 25, 60325, Frankfurt am Main, Germany; Department of Paleobiology and Environment, Institute of Ecology, Evolution, and Diversity, Goethe University, Max-von-Laue-Str. 13, 60438 Frankfurt, Germany
| | - Xiujie Wu
- Key Laboratory of Vertebrate Evolution and Human Origins, Institute of Vertebrate Paleontology and Paleoanthropology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China.
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8
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Barouch A, Mathov Y, Meshorer E, Yakir B, Carmel L. Reconstructing DNA methylation maps of ancient populations. Nucleic Acids Res 2024; 52:1602-1612. [PMID: 38261973 PMCID: PMC10939417 DOI: 10.1093/nar/gkad1232] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/11/2023] [Revised: 12/09/2023] [Accepted: 01/19/2024] [Indexed: 01/25/2024] Open
Abstract
Studying premortem DNA methylation from ancient DNA (aDNA) provides a proxy for ancient gene activity patterns, and hence valuable information on evolutionary changes in gene regulation. Due to statistical limitations, current methods to reconstruct aDNA methylation maps are constrained to high-coverage shotgun samples, which comprise a small minority of available ancient samples. Most samples are sequenced using in-situ hybridization capture sequencing which targets a predefined set of genomic positions. Here, we develop methods to reconstruct aDNA methylation maps of samples that were not sequenced using high-coverage shotgun sequencing, by way of pooling together individuals to obtain a DNA methylation map that is characteristic of a population. We show that the resulting DNA methylation maps capture meaningful biological information and allow for the detection of differential methylation across populations. We offer guidelines on how to carry out comparative studies involving ancient populations, and how to control the rate of falsely discovered differentially methylated regions. The ability to reconstruct DNA methylation maps of past populations allows for the development of a whole new frontier in paleoepigenetic research, tracing DNA methylation changes throughout human history, using data from thousands of ancient samples.
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Affiliation(s)
- Arielle Barouch
- Department of Genetics, The Alexander Silberman Institute of Life Sciences, The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Jerusalem 9190401, Israel
- School of Computer Science and Engineering, The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Jerusalem 9190401, Israel
| | - Yoav Mathov
- Department of Genetics, The Alexander Silberman Institute of Life Sciences, The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Jerusalem 9190401, Israel
- Edmond and Lily Safra Center for Brain Sciences (ELSC), The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Jerusalem 9190401, Israel
| | - Eran Meshorer
- Department of Genetics, The Alexander Silberman Institute of Life Sciences, The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Jerusalem 9190401, Israel
- Edmond and Lily Safra Center for Brain Sciences (ELSC), The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Jerusalem 9190401, Israel
| | - Benjamin Yakir
- Department of Statistics and Data Science, The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Jerusalem 9190500, Israel
| | - Liran Carmel
- Department of Genetics, The Alexander Silberman Institute of Life Sciences, The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Jerusalem 9190401, Israel
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9
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Peyrégne S, Slon V, Kelso J. More than a decade of genetic research on the Denisovans. Nat Rev Genet 2024; 25:83-103. [PMID: 37723347 DOI: 10.1038/s41576-023-00643-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 07/19/2023] [Indexed: 09/20/2023]
Abstract
Denisovans, a group of now extinct humans who lived in Eastern Eurasia in the Middle and Late Pleistocene, were first identified from DNA sequences just over a decade ago. Only ten fragmentary remains from two sites have been attributed to Denisovans based entirely on molecular information. Nevertheless, there has been great interest in using genetic data to understand Denisovans and their place in human history. From the reconstruction of a single high-quality genome, it has been possible to infer their population history, including events of admixture with other human groups. Additionally, the identification of Denisovan DNA in the genomes of present-day individuals has provided insights into the timing and routes of dispersal of ancient modern humans into Asia and Oceania, as well as the contributions of archaic DNA to the physiology of present-day people. In this Review, we synthesize more than a decade of research on Denisovans, reconcile controversies and summarize insights into their population history and phenotype. We also highlight how our growing knowledge about Denisovans has provided insights into our own evolutionary history.
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Affiliation(s)
- Stéphane Peyrégne
- Department of Evolutionary Genetics, Max-Planck-Institute for Evolutionary Anthropology, Leipzig, Germany.
| | - Viviane Slon
- Department of Evolutionary Genetics, Max-Planck-Institute for Evolutionary Anthropology, Leipzig, Germany
- Department of Anatomy and Anthropology, Faculty of Medicine, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv, Israel
- Department of Human Molecular Genetics and Biochemistry, Faculty of Medicine, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv, Israel
- The Dan David Center for Human Evolution and Biohistory Research, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv, Israel
| | - Janet Kelso
- Department of Evolutionary Genetics, Max-Planck-Institute for Evolutionary Anthropology, Leipzig, Germany.
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Agata A, Ohtsuka S, Noji R, Gotoh H, Ono K, Nomura T. A Neanderthal/Denisovan GLI3 variant contributes to anatomical variations in mice. Front Cell Dev Biol 2023; 11:1247361. [PMID: 38020913 PMCID: PMC10651735 DOI: 10.3389/fcell.2023.1247361] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/26/2023] [Accepted: 10/12/2023] [Indexed: 12/01/2023] Open
Abstract
Changes in genomic structures underlie phenotypic diversification in organisms. Amino acid-changing mutations affect pleiotropic functions of proteins, although little is known about how mutated proteins are adapted in existing developmental programs. Here we investigate the biological effects of a variant of the GLI3 transcription factor (GLI3R1537C) carried in Neanderthals and Denisovans, which are extinct hominins close to modern humans. R1537C does not compromise protein stability or GLI3 activator-dependent transcriptional activities. In contrast, R1537C affects the regulation of downstream target genes associated with developmental processes. Furthermore, genome-edited mice carrying the Neanderthal/Denisovan GLI3 mutation exhibited various alterations in skeletal morphology. Our data suggest that an extinct hominin-type GLI3 contributes to species-specific anatomical variations, which were tolerated by relaxed constraint in developmental programs during human evolution.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ako Agata
- Developmental Neurobiology, Kyoto Prefectural University of Medicine, Kyoto, Japan
| | - Satoshi Ohtsuka
- Laboratories for Experimental Animals, Kyoto Prefectural University of Medicine, Kyoto, Japan
| | - Ryota Noji
- Developmental Neurobiology, Kyoto Prefectural University of Medicine, Kyoto, Japan
| | - Hitoshi Gotoh
- Developmental Neurobiology, Kyoto Prefectural University of Medicine, Kyoto, Japan
| | - Katsuhiko Ono
- Developmental Neurobiology, Kyoto Prefectural University of Medicine, Kyoto, Japan
| | - Tadashi Nomura
- Developmental Neurobiology, Kyoto Prefectural University of Medicine, Kyoto, Japan
- Applied Biology, Kyoto Institute of Technology, Kyoto, Japan
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11
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Brand CM, Colbran LL, Capra JA. Resurrecting the alternative splicing landscape of archaic hominins using machine learning. Nat Ecol Evol 2023; 7:939-953. [PMID: 37142741 PMCID: PMC11440953 DOI: 10.1038/s41559-023-02053-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/05/2022] [Accepted: 03/29/2023] [Indexed: 05/06/2023]
Abstract
Alternative splicing contributes to adaptation and divergence in many species. However, it has not been possible to directly compare splicing between modern and archaic hominins. Here, we unmask the recent evolution of this previously unobservable regulatory mechanism by applying SpliceAI, a machine-learning algorithm that identifies splice-altering variants (SAVs), to high-coverage genomes from three Neanderthals and a Denisovan. We discover 5,950 putative archaic SAVs, of which 2,186 are archaic-specific and 3,607 also occur in modern humans via introgression (244) or shared ancestry (3,520). Archaic-specific SAVs are enriched in genes that contribute to traits potentially relevant to hominin phenotypic divergence, such as the epidermis, respiration and spinal rigidity. Compared to shared SAVs, archaic-specific SAVs occur in sites under weaker selection and are more common in genes with tissue-specific expression. Further underscoring the importance of negative selection on SAVs, Neanderthal lineages with low effective population sizes are enriched for SAVs compared to Denisovan and shared SAVs. Finally, we find that nearly all introgressed SAVs in humans were shared across the three Neanderthals, suggesting that older SAVs were more tolerated in human genomes. Our results reveal the splicing landscape of archaic hominins and identify potential contributions of splicing to phenotypic differences among hominins.
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Affiliation(s)
- Colin M Brand
- Bakar Computational Health Sciences Institute, University of California, San Francisco, CA, USA
- Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, University of California, San Francisco, CA, USA
| | - Laura L Colbran
- Department of Genetics, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - John A Capra
- Bakar Computational Health Sciences Institute, University of California, San Francisco, CA, USA.
- Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, University of California, San Francisco, CA, USA.
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12
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Rotival M. Archaic hominin traits through the splicing lens. Nat Ecol Evol 2023:10.1038/s41559-023-02045-5. [PMID: 37142740 DOI: 10.1038/s41559-023-02045-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/06/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Maxime Rotival
- Institut Pasteur, Université Paris Cité, CNRS UMR2000, Human Evolutionary Genetics Unit, Paris, France.
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13
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Zhang Y, Li Z. Three-dimensional geometric morphometric study of the Xuchang 2 cranium. J Hum Evol 2023; 178:103347. [PMID: 36966596 DOI: 10.1016/j.jhevol.2023.103347] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/04/2022] [Revised: 02/24/2023] [Accepted: 02/24/2023] [Indexed: 04/01/2023]
Abstract
Results of traditional metric and nonmetric assessments suggest that the Xuchang hominin shares features with Neanderthals. To comprehensively compare the nuchal morphology of XC 2 to those of the genus Homo, we conduct a three-dimensional geometric morphometric study with 35 cranial landmarks and surface semilandmarks of XC 2, Homo erectus, Middle Pleistocene humans, Neanderthals, and early and recent modern humans. Results reveal that the centroid size of XC 2 is larger than that of early and recent modern humans and can only be compared to that of Middle Pleistocene humans and H. erectus. Early and recent modern humans share a nuchal morphology distinct from archaic hominins (Ngandong H. erectus, Middle Pleistocene humans, and Neanderthals), except for SM 3, Sangiran 17, and Asian and African H. erectus. Although Ngandong specimens differ from the other H. erectus, it is unclear whether this represents a temporal or spatial trend in the process of evolution of this species. The nuchal morphological resemblance between Middle Pleistocene humans and Neanderthals may be attributed to similar cranial architecture and cerebellar shape. The great nuchal morphological variation shared by recent modern humans may indicate a particular developmental pattern. In conclusion, the nuchal morphology of different human groups is highly variable and may be caused by different factors including brain globularization and developmental plasticity. XC 2 shares similar nuchal morphology with Middle Pleistocene humans and Neanderthals, but these results are insufficient to fully resolve the taxonomic status of XC 2.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yameng Zhang
- Joint International Research Laboratory of Environmental and Social Archaeology, Shandong University, Qingdao, 266237, China; Institute of Cultural Heritage, Shandong University, Qingdao, 266237, China.
| | - Zhanyang Li
- Joint International Research Laboratory of Environmental and Social Archaeology, Shandong University, Qingdao, 266237, China; Institute of Cultural Heritage, Shandong University, Qingdao, 266237, China; Henan Provincial Institute of Cultural Relics and Archaeology, Zhengzhou, 450000, China.
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14
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DNA methylation-based profiling of horse archaeological remains for age-at-death and castration. iScience 2023; 26:106144. [PMID: 36843848 PMCID: PMC9950528 DOI: 10.1016/j.isci.2023.106144] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/27/2022] [Revised: 01/02/2023] [Accepted: 02/01/2023] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Age profiling of archaeological bone assemblages can inform on past animal management practices, but is limited by the fragmentary nature of the fossil record and the lack of universal skeletal markers for age. DNA methylation clocks offer new, albeit challenging, alternatives for estimating the age-at-death of ancient individuals. Here, we take advantage of the availability of a DNA methylation clock based on 31,836 CpG sites and dental age markers in horses to assess age predictions in 84 ancient remains. We evaluate our approach using whole-genome sequencing data and develop a capture assay providing reliable estimates for only a fraction of the cost. We also leverage DNA methylation patterns to assess castration practice in the past. Our work opens for a deeper characterization of past husbandry and ritual practices and holds the potential to reveal age mortality profiles in ancient societies, once extended to human remains.
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15
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Hoffecker JF, Elias SA, Scott GR, O'Rourke DH, Hlusko LJ, Potapova O, Pitulko V, Pavlova E, Bourgeon L, Vachula RS. Beringia and the peopling of the Western Hemisphere. Proc Biol Sci 2023; 290:20222246. [PMID: 36629115 PMCID: PMC9832545 DOI: 10.1098/rspb.2022.2246] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/12/2023] Open
Abstract
Did Beringian environments represent an ecological barrier to humans until less than 15 000 years ago or was access to the Americas controlled by the spatial-temporal distribution of North American ice sheets? Beringian environments varied with respect to climate and biota, especially in the two major areas of exposed continental shelf. The East Siberian Arctic Shelf ('Great Arctic Plain' (GAP)) supported a dry steppe-tundra biome inhabited by a diverse large-mammal community, while the southern Bering-Chukchi Platform ('Bering Land Bridge' (BLB)) supported mesic tundra and probably a lower large-mammal biomass. A human population with west Eurasian roots occupied the GAP before the Last Glacial Maximum (LGM) and may have accessed mid-latitude North America via an interior ice-free corridor. Re-opening of the corridor less than 14 000 years ago indicates that the primary ancestors of living First Peoples, who already had spread widely in the Americas at this time, probably dispersed from the NW Pacific coast. A genetic 'arctic signal' in non-arctic First Peoples suggests that their parent population inhabited the GAP during the LGM, before their split from the former. We infer a shift from GAP terrestrial to a subarctic maritime economy on the southern BLB coast before dispersal in the Americas from the NW Pacific coast.
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Affiliation(s)
- John F. Hoffecker
- Institute of Arctic and Alpine Research, University of Colorado, Boulder, CO 80309, USA,Department of Anthropology, University of Kansas, 622 Fraser Hall, 1415 Jayhawk Blvd, Lawrence, KS 66045, USA
| | - Scott A. Elias
- Institute of Arctic and Alpine Research, University of Colorado, Boulder, CO 80309, USA
| | - G. Richard Scott
- Department of Anthropology, University of Nevada-Reno, 1664 N. Virginia Street, Reno, NV 89557, USA
| | - Dennis H. O'Rourke
- Department of Anthropology, University of Kansas, 622 Fraser Hall, 1415 Jayhawk Blvd, Lawrence, KS 66045, USA
| | - Leslea J. Hlusko
- Human Evolution Research Center, University of California-Berkeley, 3101 Valley Life Sciences Building, Berkeley, CA 94720-3140, USA,Centro Nacional de Investigación sobre la Evolución Humana (CENIEH), Burgos, Spain
| | - Olga Potapova
- Pleistocene Park Foundation, Philadelphia, PA 19006, USA,Department of Mammoth Fauna Studies, Academy of Sciences of Sakha, Yakutsk, Russia,The Mammoth Site of Hot Springs, Hot Springs, SD 57747, USA
| | - Vladimir Pitulko
- Institute of the History of Material Culture, Russian Academy of Sciences, Dvortsovaya nab., 18, 191186 St Petersburg, Russia,Peter the Great Museum of Anthropology and Ethnography (Kunstkamera), Russian Academy of Sciences, 3, Universitetskaya nab., St Petersburg 199034, Russian Federation
| | - Elena Pavlova
- Arctic and Antarctic Research Institute, Russian Federal Service for Hydrometeorology and Environmental Monitoring, 38 Bering Street, 199397 St Petersburg, Russia
| | - Lauriane Bourgeon
- Kansas Geological Survey, University of Kansas, 1930 Constant Ave., Lawrence, KS 66047, USA
| | - Richard S. Vachula
- Department of Geosciences, Auburn University, 2050 Beard Eaves Coliseum, Auburn, AL 36849-5305, USA
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16
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Harvati K, Reyes-Centeno H. Evolution of Homo in the Middle and Late Pleistocene. J Hum Evol 2022; 173:103279. [PMID: 36375244 PMCID: PMC9703123 DOI: 10.1016/j.jhevol.2022.103279] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/27/2022] [Revised: 10/10/2022] [Accepted: 10/10/2022] [Indexed: 11/13/2022]
Abstract
The Middle and Late Pleistocene is arguably the most interesting period in human evolution. This broad period witnessed the evolution of our own lineage, as well as that of our sister taxon, the Neanderthals, and related Denisovans. It is exceptionally rich in both fossil and archaeological remains, and uniquely benefits from insights gained through molecular approaches, such as paleogenetics and paleoproteomics, that are currently not widely applicable in earlier contexts. This wealth of information paints a highly complex picture, often described as 'the Muddle in the Middle,' defying the common adage that 'more evidence is needed' to resolve it. Here we review competing phylogenetic scenarios and the historical and theoretical developments that shaped our approaches to the fossil record, as well as some of the many remaining open questions associated with this period. We propose that advancing our understanding of this critical time requires more than the addition of data and will necessitate a major shift in our conceptual and theoretical framework.
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Affiliation(s)
- Katerina Harvati
- Paleoanthropology, Institute for Archaeological Sciences and Senckenberg Centre for Human Evolution and Palaeoenvironment, Eberhard Karls University of Tübingen, Rümelinstrasse 19-23, Tübingen 72070, Germany; DFG Centre for Advanced Studies 'Words, Bones, Genes, Tools: Tracking Linguistic, Cultural and Biological Trajectories of the Human Past', Rümelinstrasse 19-23, Tübingen 72070, Germany.
| | - Hugo Reyes-Centeno
- Department of Anthropology, University of Kentucky, 211 Lafferty Hall, Lexington, KY 40506, USA; William S. Webb Museum of Anthropology, University of Kentucky, 1020 Export St, Lexington, KY 40504, USA
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17
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Reilly PF, Tjahjadi A, Miller SL, Akey JM, Tucci S. The contribution of Neanderthal introgression to modern human traits. Curr Biol 2022; 32:R970-R983. [PMID: 36167050 PMCID: PMC9741939 DOI: 10.1016/j.cub.2022.08.027] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
Neanderthals, our closest extinct relatives, lived in western Eurasia from 400,000 years ago until they went extinct around 40,000 years ago. DNA retrieved from ancient specimens revealed that Neanderthals mated with modern human contemporaries. As a consequence, introgressed Neanderthal DNA survives scattered across the human genome such that 1-4% of the genome of present-day people outside Africa are inherited from Neanderthal ancestors. Patterns of Neanderthal introgressed genomic sequences suggest that Neanderthal alleles had distinct fates in the modern human genetic background. Some Neanderthal alleles facilitated human adaptation to new environments such as novel climate conditions, UV exposure levels and pathogens, while others had deleterious consequences. Here, we review the body of work on Neanderthal introgression over the past decade. We describe how evolutionary forces shaped the genomic landscape of Neanderthal introgression and highlight the impact of introgressed alleles on human biology and phenotypic variation.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Audrey Tjahjadi
- Department of Anthropology, Yale University, New Haven, CT, USA
| | | | - Joshua M Akey
- Lewis Sigler Institute for Integrative Genomics, Princeton University, Princeton, NJ, USA.
| | - Serena Tucci
- Department of Anthropology, Yale University, New Haven, CT, USA; Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, Yale University, New Haven, CT, USA.
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18
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Naqvi S, Hoskens H, Wilke F, Weinberg SM, Shaffer JR, Walsh S, Shriver MD, Wysocka J, Claes P. Decoding the Human Face: Progress and Challenges in Understanding the Genetics of Craniofacial Morphology. Annu Rev Genomics Hum Genet 2022; 23:383-412. [PMID: 35483406 PMCID: PMC9482780 DOI: 10.1146/annurev-genom-120121-102607] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/24/2022]
Abstract
Variations in the form of the human face, which plays a role in our individual identities and societal interactions, have fascinated scientists and artists alike. Here, we review our current understanding of the genetics underlying variation in craniofacial morphology and disease-associated dysmorphology, synthesizing decades of progress on Mendelian syndromes in addition to more recent results from genome-wide association studies of human facial shape and disease risk. We also discuss the various approaches used to phenotype and quantify facial shape, which are of particular importance due to the complex, multipartite nature of the craniofacial form. We close by discussing how experimental studies have contributed and will further contribute to our understanding of human genetic variation and then proposing future directions and applications for the field.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sahin Naqvi
- Department of Chemical and Systems Biology, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, California, USA; ,
- Department of Genetics, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, California, USA
| | - Hanne Hoskens
- Center for Processing Speech and Images, Department of Electrical Engineering, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium; ,
- Medical Imaging Research Center, University Hospitals Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Franziska Wilke
- Department of Biology, Indiana University-Purdue University Indianapolis, Indianapolis, Indiana, USA; ,
| | - Seth M Weinberg
- Department of Human Genetics, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA; ,
- Center for Craniofacial and Dental Genetics, Department of Oral and Craniofacial Sciences, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA
- Department of Anthropology, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA
| | - John R Shaffer
- Department of Human Genetics, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA; ,
- Center for Craniofacial and Dental Genetics, Department of Oral and Craniofacial Sciences, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA
| | - Susan Walsh
- Department of Biology, Indiana University-Purdue University Indianapolis, Indianapolis, Indiana, USA; ,
| | - Mark D Shriver
- Department of Anthropology, The Pennsylvania State University, University Park, Pennsylvania, USA;
| | - Joanna Wysocka
- Department of Chemical and Systems Biology, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, California, USA; ,
- Department of Developmental Biology, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, California, USA
- Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, California, USA
| | - Peter Claes
- Center for Processing Speech and Images, Department of Electrical Engineering, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium; ,
- Medical Imaging Research Center, University Hospitals Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
- Department of Human Genetics, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
- Murdoch Children's Research Institute, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
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19
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A Middle Pleistocene Denisovan molar from the Annamite Chain of northern Laos. Nat Commun 2022; 13:2557. [PMID: 35581187 PMCID: PMC9114389 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-022-29923-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/29/2021] [Accepted: 04/05/2022] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
The Pleistocene presence of the genus Homo in continental Southeast Asia is primarily evidenced by a sparse stone tool record and rare human remains. Here we report a Middle Pleistocene hominin specimen from Laos, with the discovery of a molar from the Tam Ngu Hao 2 (Cobra Cave) limestone cave in the Annamite Mountains. The age of the fossil-bearing breccia ranges between 164–131 kyr, based on the Bayesian modelling of luminescence dating of the sedimentary matrix from which it was recovered, U-series dating of an overlying flowstone, and U-series–ESR dating of associated faunal teeth. Analyses of the internal structure of the molar in tandem with palaeoproteomic analyses of the enamel indicate that the tooth derives from a young, likely female, Homo individual. The close morphological affinities with the Xiahe specimen from China indicate that they belong to the same taxon and that Tam Ngu Hao 2 most likely represents a Denisovan. Evidence for the presence of Homo during the Middle Pleistocene is limited in continental Southeast Asia. Here, the authors report a hominin molar from Tam Ngu Hao 2 (Cobra Cave), dated to 164–131 kyr. They use morphological and paleoproteomic analysis to show that it likely belonged to a female Denisovan.
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20
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Brand CM, Colbran LL, Capra JA. Predicting Archaic Hominin Phenotypes from Genomic Data. Annu Rev Genomics Hum Genet 2022; 23:591-612. [PMID: 35440148 DOI: 10.1146/annurev-genom-111521-121903] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/09/2022]
Abstract
Ancient DNA provides a powerful window into the biology of extant and extinct species, including humans' closest relatives: Denisovans and Neanderthals. Here, we review what is known about archaic hominin phenotypes from genomic data and how those inferences have been made. We contend that understanding the influence of variants on lower-level molecular phenotypes-such as gene expression and protein function-is a promising approach to using ancient DNA to learn about archaic hominin traits. Molecular phenotypes have simpler genetic architectures than organism-level complex phenotypes, and this approach enables moving beyond association studies by proposing hypotheses about the effects of archaic variants that are testable in model systems. The major challenge to understanding archaic hominin phenotypes is broadening our ability to accurately map genotypes to phenotypes, but ongoing advances ensure that there will be much more to learn about archaic hominin phenotypes from their genomes. Expected final online publication date for the Annual Review of Genomics and Human Genetics, Volume 23 is October 2022. Please see http://www.annualreviews.org/page/journal/pubdates for revised estimates.
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Affiliation(s)
- Colin M Brand
- Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, University of California, San Francisco, California, USA; , .,Bakar Computational Health Sciences Institute, University of California, San Francisco, California, USA
| | - Laura L Colbran
- Department of Genetics, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA
| | - John A Capra
- Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, University of California, San Francisco, California, USA; , .,Bakar Computational Health Sciences Institute, University of California, San Francisco, California, USA
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21
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Evolution of cranial capacity revisited: A view from the late Middle Pleistocene cranium from Xujiayao, China. J Hum Evol 2022; 163:103119. [PMID: 35026677 DOI: 10.1016/j.jhevol.2021.103119] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/06/2021] [Revised: 11/12/2021] [Accepted: 11/15/2021] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
The Late Middle Pleistocene hominin fossils from the Xujiayao site in northern China have been closely studied in light of their morphological variability. However, all previous studies have focused on separated cranial fragments. Here, we report the first reconstruction of a fairly complete posterior cranium, Xujiayao 6 (XJY 6), confidently dated to ∼200-160 ka, which facilitated an assessment of its overall cranial size. XJY 6 was reconstructed from three of the original fragments-the PA1486 (No.7/XJY 6a) occipital bone, PA1490 (No.10/XJY 6b) right parietal bone, and PA1498 (No.17/XJY 15) left temporal bone-which originated from the same young adult individual. The XJY 6 endocranial capacity, estimated by measuring endocranial volume, was estimated using multiple regression formulae derived from ectocranial and endocranial measurements on select samples of Pleistocene hominins and recent modern humans. The results indicate that the larger pooled sample of both Pleistocene and recent modern humans was more robust for the endocranial capacity estimate. Based on the pooled sample using the ectocranial and endocranial measurements, we conservatively estimate the XJY 6 endocranial volume to be ∼1700 cm3 with a 95% confidence interval of 1555-1781 cm3. This is close to Xuchang 1, which dates to 125-105 ka and whose endocranial volume is ∼1800 cm3. Thus, XJY 6 provides the earliest evidence of a brain size that falls in the upper range of Neanderthals and modern Homo sapiens. XJY 6, together with Xuchang 1, Homo floresiensis, Homo luzonensis, and Homo naledi, challenge the general pattern that brain size gradually increases over geological time. This study also finds that hominin brain size expansion occurred at different rates across time and space.
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22
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Liu J, Mosti F, Silver DL. Human brain evolution: Emerging roles for regulatory DNA and RNA. Curr Opin Neurobiol 2021; 71:170-177. [PMID: 34861533 PMCID: PMC8756680 DOI: 10.1016/j.conb.2021.11.005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/01/2021] [Revised: 09/03/2021] [Accepted: 11/02/2021] [Indexed: 12/18/2022]
Abstract
Humans diverge from other primates in numerous ways, including their neuroanatomy and cognitive capacities. Human-specific features are particularly prominent in the cerebral cortex, which has undergone an expansion in size and acquired unique cellular composition and circuitry. Human-specific gene expression is postulated to explain neocortical anatomical differences across evolution. In particular, noncoding regulatory loci are strongly linked to human traits, including progenitor proliferation and cortical size. In this review, we highlight emerging noncoding elements implicated in human cortical evolution, including roles for regulatory DNA and RNA. Further, we discuss the association of human-specific genetic changes with neurodevelopmental diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jing Liu
- Department of Molecular Genetics and Microbiology, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, NC 27710, USA
| | - Federica Mosti
- Department of Molecular Genetics and Microbiology, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, NC 27710, USA; Department of Neurobiology, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, NC 27710, USA
| | - Debra L Silver
- Department of Molecular Genetics and Microbiology, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, NC 27710, USA; Department of Neurobiology, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, NC 27710, USA; Department of Cell Biology, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, NC 27710, USA; Duke Regeneration Center and Duke Institute for Brain Sciences, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, NC 277710, USA.
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23
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Zhur KV, Trifonov VA, Prokhortchouk EB. Progress and Prospects in Epigenetic Studies of Ancient DNA. BIOCHEMISTRY. BIOKHIMIIA 2021; 86:1563-1571. [PMID: 34937535 DOI: 10.1134/s0006297921120051] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/29/2021] [Revised: 11/17/2021] [Accepted: 11/17/2021] [Indexed: 06/14/2023]
Abstract
Development of technologies for high-throughput whole-genome sequencing and improvement of sample preparation techniques made it possible to study ancient DNA (aDNA) from archaeological samples over a million year old. The studies of aDNA have shed light on the history of human migration, replacement of populations, interbreeding of Cro-Magnons with Neanderthals and Denisovans, evolution of human pathogens, etc. Equally important is the possibility to investigate epigenetic modifications of ancient genomes, which has allowed to obtain previously inaccessible information on gene expression, nucleosome positioning, and DNA methylation. Analysis of methylation status of certain genomic sites can predict an individual's age at death and reconstruct some phenotypic features, as it was done for the Denisovan genome, and even to elucidate unfavorable environmental factors that had affected this archaic individual. In this review, we discuss current progress in epigenetic studies of aDNA, including methodological approaches and promising research directions in this field.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kristina V Zhur
- Federal Research Centre "Fundamentals of Biotechnology", Russian Academy of Sciences, Moscow, 119071, Russia
| | - Victor A Trifonov
- Institute for History of Material Culture, Russian Academy of Sciences, St.-Petersburg, 191186, Russia
| | - Egor B Prokhortchouk
- Federal Research Centre "Fundamentals of Biotechnology", Russian Academy of Sciences, Moscow, 119071, Russia.
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24
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Smith RW, Non AL. Assessing the achievements and uncertain future of paleoepigenomics. Epigenomics 2021; 14:167-173. [PMID: 34850636 DOI: 10.2217/epi-2021-0382] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/16/2023] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Rick Wa Smith
- Department of Sociology and Anthropology, George Mason University, Fairfax, VA 22030, USA
| | - Amy L Non
- Department of Anthropology, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, CA 92093, USA
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25
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Weiss CV, Harshman L, Inoue F, Fraser HB, Petrov DA, Ahituv N, Gokhman D. The cis-regulatory effects of modern human-specific variants. eLife 2021; 10:e63713. [PMID: 33885362 PMCID: PMC8062137 DOI: 10.7554/elife.63713] [Citation(s) in RCA: 29] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/03/2020] [Accepted: 03/30/2021] [Indexed: 12/24/2022] Open
Abstract
The Neanderthal and Denisovan genomes enabled the discovery of sequences that differ between modern and archaic humans, the majority of which are noncoding. However, our understanding of the regulatory consequences of these differences remains limited, in part due to the decay of regulatory marks in ancient samples. Here, we used a massively parallel reporter assay in embryonic stem cells, neural progenitor cells, and bone osteoblasts to investigate the regulatory effects of the 14,042 single-nucleotide modern human-specific variants. Overall, 1791 (13%) of sequences containing these variants showed active regulatory activity, and 407 (23%) of these drove differential expression between human groups. Differentially active sequences were associated with divergent transcription factor binding motifs, and with genes enriched for vocal tract and brain anatomy and function. This work provides insight into the regulatory function of variants that emerged along the modern human lineage and the recent evolution of human gene expression.
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Affiliation(s)
- Carly V Weiss
- Department of Biology, Stanford University, StanfordStanfordUnited States
| | - Lana Harshman
- Department of Bioengineering and Therapeutic Sciences, University of California San Francisco, San FranciscoSan FranciscoUnited States
- Institute for Human Genetics, University of California San Francisco, San FranciscoSan FranciscoUnited States
| | - Fumitaka Inoue
- Department of Bioengineering and Therapeutic Sciences, University of California San Francisco, San FranciscoSan FranciscoUnited States
- Institute for Human Genetics, University of California San Francisco, San FranciscoSan FranciscoUnited States
| | - Hunter B Fraser
- Department of Biology, Stanford University, StanfordStanfordUnited States
| | - Dmitri A Petrov
- Department of Biology, Stanford University, StanfordStanfordUnited States
| | - Nadav Ahituv
- Department of Bioengineering and Therapeutic Sciences, University of California San Francisco, San FranciscoSan FranciscoUnited States
- Institute for Human Genetics, University of California San Francisco, San FranciscoSan FranciscoUnited States
| | - David Gokhman
- Department of Biology, Stanford University, StanfordStanfordUnited States
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Human-chimpanzee fused cells reveal cis-regulatory divergence underlying skeletal evolution. Nat Genet 2021; 53:467-476. [PMID: 33731941 PMCID: PMC8038968 DOI: 10.1038/s41588-021-00804-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 35] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/10/2020] [Accepted: 01/26/2021] [Indexed: 01/06/2023]
Abstract
Gene regulatory divergence is thought to play a central role in determining human-specific traits. However, our ability to link divergent regulation to divergent phenotypes is limited. Here, we utilized human-chimpanzee hybrid induced pluripotent stem cells to study gene expression separating these species. The tetraploid hybrid cells allowed us to separate cis- from trans-regulatory effects, and to control for non-genetic confounding factors. We differentiated these cells into cranial neural crest cells (CNCCs), the primary cell type giving rise to the face. We discovered evidence of lineage-specific selection on the hedgehog signaling pathway, including a human-specific 6-fold down-regulation of EVC2 (LIMBIN), a key hedgehog gene. Inducing a similar down-regulation of EVC2 substantially reduced hedgehog signaling output. Mice and humans lacking functional EVC2 show striking phenotypic parallels to human-chimpanzee craniofacial differences, suggesting that the regulatory divergence of hedgehog signaling may have contributed to the unique craniofacial morphology of humans.
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Campbell RM, Vinas G, Henneberg M, Diogo R. Visual Depictions of Our Evolutionary Past: A Broad Case Study Concerning the Need for Quantitative Methods of Soft Tissue Reconstruction and Art-Science Collaborations. Front Ecol Evol 2021. [DOI: 10.3389/fevo.2021.639048] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Flip through scientific textbooks illustrating ideas about human evolution or visit any number of museums of natural history and you will notice an abundance of reconstructions attempting to depict the appearance of ancient hominins. Spend some time comparing reconstructions of the same specimen and notice an obvious fact: hominin reconstructions vary in appearance considerably. In this review, we summarize existing methods of reconstruction to analyze this variability. It is argued that variability between hominin reconstructions is likely the result of unreliable reconstruction methods and misinterpretation of available evidence. We also discuss the risk of disseminating erroneous ideas about human evolution through the use of unscientific reconstructions in museums and publications. The role an artist plays is also analyzed and criticized given how the aforementioned reconstructions have become readily accepted to line the halls of even the most trusted institutions. In conclusion, improved reconstruction methods hold promise for the prediction of hominin soft tissues, as well as for disseminating current scientific understandings of human evolution in the future.
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Mathov Y, Batyrev D, Meshorer E, Carmel L. Harnessing epigenetics to study human evolution. Curr Opin Genet Dev 2020; 62:23-29. [PMID: 32574964 DOI: 10.1016/j.gde.2020.05.023] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/14/2020] [Revised: 05/18/2020] [Accepted: 05/22/2020] [Indexed: 11/27/2022]
Abstract
Recent advances in ancient DNA extraction and high-throughput sequencing technologies enabled the high-quality sequencing of archaic genomes, including the Neanderthal and the Denisovan. While comparisons with modern humans revealed both archaic-specific and human-specific sequence changes, in the absence of gene expression information, understanding the functional implications of such genetic variations remains a major challenge. To study gene regulation in archaic humans, epigenetic research comes to our aid. DNA methylation, which is highly correlated with transcription, can be directly measured in modern samples, as well as reconstructed in ancient samples. This puts DNA methylation as a natural basis for comparative epigenetics between modern humans, archaic humans and nonhuman primates.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yoav Mathov
- Department of Genetics, The Alexander Silberman Institute of Life Sciences, The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Edmond J. Safra Campus, Givat Ram, Jerusalem, 9190400, Israel; The Edmond and Lily Safra Center for Brain Sciences (ELSC), The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Edmond J. Safra Campus, Givat Ram, Jerusalem 9190400, Israel
| | - Daniel Batyrev
- Department of Genetics, The Alexander Silberman Institute of Life Sciences, The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Edmond J. Safra Campus, Givat Ram, Jerusalem, 9190400, Israel; The Edmond and Lily Safra Center for Brain Sciences (ELSC), The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Edmond J. Safra Campus, Givat Ram, Jerusalem 9190400, Israel
| | - Eran Meshorer
- Department of Genetics, The Alexander Silberman Institute of Life Sciences, The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Edmond J. Safra Campus, Givat Ram, Jerusalem, 9190400, Israel; The Edmond and Lily Safra Center for Brain Sciences (ELSC), The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Edmond J. Safra Campus, Givat Ram, Jerusalem 9190400, Israel.
| | - Liran Carmel
- Department of Genetics, The Alexander Silberman Institute of Life Sciences, The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Edmond J. Safra Campus, Givat Ram, Jerusalem, 9190400, Israel.
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29
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Schroeder L. Revolutionary Fossils, Ancient Biomolecules, and Reflections in Ethics and Decolonization: Paleoanthropology in 2019. AMERICAN ANTHROPOLOGIST 2020. [DOI: 10.1111/aman.13410] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/17/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Lauren Schroeder
- Department of Anthropology University of Toronto Mississauga Mississauga ON Canada
- Human Evolution Research Institute University of Cape Town Rondebosch Western Cape South Africa
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30
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Yan SM, McCoy RC. Archaic hominin genomics provides a window into gene expression evolution. Curr Opin Genet Dev 2020; 62:44-49. [PMID: 32615344 PMCID: PMC7483639 DOI: 10.1016/j.gde.2020.05.014] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/08/2020] [Revised: 05/06/2020] [Accepted: 05/08/2020] [Indexed: 02/08/2023]
Abstract
Differences in gene expression are thought to account for most phenotypic differences within and between species. Consequently, gene expression is a powerful lens through which to study divergence between modern humans and our closest evolutionary relatives, the Neanderthals and Denisovans. Such insights complement biological knowledge gleaned from the fossil record, while also revealing general features of the mode and tempo of regulatory evolution. Because of the degradation of ancient RNA, gene expression profiles of archaic hominins must be studied by indirect means. As such, conclusions drawn from these studies are often laden with assumptions about the genetic architecture of gene expression, the complexity of which is increasingly apparent. Despite these challenges, rapid technical and conceptual advances in the fields of ancient genomics, functional genomics, statistical genomics, and genome engineering are revolutionizing understanding of hominin gene expression evolution.
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Affiliation(s)
- Stephanie M Yan
- Department of Biology, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD, 21218, USA
| | - Rajiv C McCoy
- Department of Biology, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD, 21218, USA.
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31
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Ottenburghs J. Ghost Introgression: Spooky Gene Flow in the Distant Past. Bioessays 2020; 42:e2000012. [DOI: 10.1002/bies.202000012] [Citation(s) in RCA: 29] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/24/2020] [Revised: 02/25/2020] [Indexed: 01/25/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Jente Ottenburghs
- Department of Evolutionary Biology, Evolutionary Biology Centre Uppsala University Norbyvägen 18D Uppsala SE‐752 36 Sweden
- Wildlife Ecology and Conservation Group Wageningen University Droevendaalsesteeg 3a Wageningen 6708 PB The Netherlands
- Forest Ecology and Forest Management Group Wageningen University Droevendaalsesteeg 3a Wageningen 6708 PB The Netherlands
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32
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Gokhman D, Nissim-Rafinia M, Agranat-Tamir L, Housman G, García-Pérez R, Lizano E, Cheronet O, Mallick S, Nieves-Colón MA, Li H, Alpaslan-Roodenberg S, Novak M, Gu H, Osinski JM, Ferrando-Bernal M, Gelabert P, Lipende I, Mjungu D, Kondova I, Bontrop R, Kullmer O, Weber G, Shahar T, Dvir-Ginzberg M, Faerman M, Quillen EE, Meissner A, Lahav Y, Kandel L, Liebergall M, Prada ME, Vidal JM, Gronostajski RM, Stone AC, Yakir B, Lalueza-Fox C, Pinhasi R, Reich D, Marques-Bonet T, Meshorer E, Carmel L. Differential DNA methylation of vocal and facial anatomy genes in modern humans. Nat Commun 2020; 11:1189. [PMID: 32132541 PMCID: PMC7055320 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-020-15020-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 43] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/25/2019] [Accepted: 02/13/2020] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
Changes in potential regulatory elements are thought to be key drivers of phenotypic divergence. However, identifying changes to regulatory elements that underlie human-specific traits has proven very challenging. Here, we use 63 reconstructed and experimentally measured DNA methylation maps of ancient and present-day humans, as well as of six chimpanzees, to detect differentially methylated regions that likely emerged in modern humans after the split from Neanderthals and Denisovans. We show that genes associated with face and vocal tract anatomy went through particularly extensive methylation changes. Specifically, we identify widespread hypermethylation in a network of face- and voice-associated genes (SOX9, ACAN, COL2A1, NFIX and XYLT1). We propose that these repression patterns appeared after the split from Neanderthals and Denisovans, and that they might have played a key role in shaping the modern human face and vocal tract.
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Affiliation(s)
- David Gokhman
- Department of Genetics, The Alexander Silberman Institute of Life Sciences, Faculty of Science, The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, 91904, Jerusalem, Israel.
| | - Malka Nissim-Rafinia
- Department of Genetics, The Alexander Silberman Institute of Life Sciences, Faculty of Science, The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, 91904, Jerusalem, Israel
| | - Lily Agranat-Tamir
- Department of Genetics, The Alexander Silberman Institute of Life Sciences, Faculty of Science, The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, 91904, Jerusalem, Israel
- Department of Statistics, The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, 91905, Jerusalem, Israel
| | - Genevieve Housman
- School of Human Evolution and Social Change, Arizona State University, Tempe, AZ, 85281, USA
- Center for Evolution and Medicine, Arizona State University, Tempe, AZ, 85287, USA
| | | | - Esther Lizano
- Institute of Evolutionary Biology (UPF-CSIC), PRBB, 08003, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Olivia Cheronet
- Department of Evolutionary Anthropology, University of Vienna, 1090, Vienna, Austria
| | - Swapan Mallick
- Broad Institute, Cambridge, MA, 02138, USA
- Department of Genetics, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, 02115, USA
- Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, 02115, USA
| | - Maria A Nieves-Colón
- School of Human Evolution and Social Change, Arizona State University, Tempe, AZ, 85281, USA
- Center for Evolution and Medicine, Arizona State University, Tempe, AZ, 85287, USA
| | - Heng Li
- Broad Institute, Cambridge, MA, 02138, USA
| | | | - Mario Novak
- Institute for Anthropological Research, 10000, Zagreb, Croatia
- Earth Institute and School of Archaeology, University College Dublin, Dublin 4, Ireland
| | | | - Jason M Osinski
- Department of Biochemistry, Jacobs School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, University at Buffalo, Buffalo, NY, 14203, USA
| | | | - Pere Gelabert
- Institute of Evolutionary Biology (UPF-CSIC), PRBB, 08003, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Iddi Lipende
- Gombe Stream Research Center, Jane Goodall Institute, Kigoma, Tanzania
| | - Deus Mjungu
- Gombe Stream Research Center, Jane Goodall Institute, Kigoma, Tanzania
| | - Ivanela Kondova
- Biomedical Primate Research Centre (BPRC), Rijswijk, Netherlands
| | - Ronald Bontrop
- Biomedical Primate Research Centre (BPRC), Rijswijk, Netherlands
| | - Ottmar Kullmer
- Department of Palaeoanthropology and Messel Research, Senckenberg Center of Human Evolution and Paleoecology, Frankfurt am Main, Germany
| | - Gerhard Weber
- Department of Evolutionary Anthropology, University of Vienna, 1090, Vienna, Austria
| | - Tal Shahar
- Department of Neurosurgery, Shaare Zedek Medical Center, Jerusalem, Israel
| | - Mona Dvir-Ginzberg
- Laboratory of Cartilage Biology, Institute of Dental Sciences, Faculty of Dental Medicine, Hebrew University of Jerusalem, 91120, Jerusalem, Israel
| | - Marina Faerman
- Laboratory of Bioanthropology and Ancient DNA, Institute of Dental Sciences, Faculty of Dental Medicine, The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, 91120, Jerusalem, Israel
| | - Ellen E Quillen
- Department of Genetics, Texas Biomedical Research Institute, San Antonio, TX, 85287, USA
| | - Alexander Meissner
- Broad Institute, Cambridge, MA, 02138, USA
- Harvard Stem Cell Institute, Cambridge, MA, 02138, USA
- Department of Stem Cell and Regenerative Biology, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA, 02138, USA
| | - Yonatan Lahav
- Otolaryngology - Head & Neck Surgery Department, Laryngeal Surgery Unit, Kaplan Medical Center, Rehovot, Israel
- The Hebrew University Medical School, Jerusalem, Israel
| | - Leonid Kandel
- Orthopaedic Department, Hadassah - Hebrew University Medical Center, Jerusalem, Israel
| | - Meir Liebergall
- Orthopaedic Department, Hadassah - Hebrew University Medical Center, Jerusalem, Israel
| | - María E Prada
- I.E.S.O. 'Los Salados'. Junta de Castilla y León, León, Spain
| | - Julio M Vidal
- Junta de Castilla y León, Servicio de Cultura de León, León, Spain
| | - Richard M Gronostajski
- Department of Biochemistry, Jacobs School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, University at Buffalo, Buffalo, NY, 14203, USA
- Genetics, Genomics and Bioinformatics Program, New York State Center of Excellence in Bioinformatics and Life Sciences, Jacobs School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, University at Buffalo, Buffalo, NY, 14203, USA
| | - Anne C Stone
- School of Human Evolution and Social Change, Arizona State University, Tempe, AZ, 85281, USA
- Center for Evolution and Medicine, Arizona State University, Tempe, AZ, 85287, USA
- Institute of Human Origins, Arizona State University, Tempe, AZ, 85287, USA
| | - Benjamin Yakir
- Department of Statistics, The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, 91905, Jerusalem, Israel
| | - Carles Lalueza-Fox
- Institute of Evolutionary Biology (UPF-CSIC), PRBB, 08003, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Ron Pinhasi
- Department of Evolutionary Anthropology, University of Vienna, 1090, Vienna, Austria
| | - David Reich
- Broad Institute, Cambridge, MA, 02138, USA
- Department of Genetics, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, 02115, USA
- Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, 02115, USA
| | - Tomas Marques-Bonet
- Institute of Evolutionary Biology (UPF-CSIC), PRBB, 08003, Barcelona, Spain
- Catalan Institution of Research and Advanced Studies (ICREA), 08010, Barcelona, Spain
- CNAG-CRG, Centre for Genomic Regulation (CRG), Barcelona Institute of Science and Technology (BIST), 08028, Barcelona, Spain
- Institut Català de Paleontologia Miquel Crusafont, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Edifici ICTA-ICP, c/ Columnes s/n, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Eran Meshorer
- Department of Genetics, The Alexander Silberman Institute of Life Sciences, Faculty of Science, The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, 91904, Jerusalem, Israel.
- The Edmond and Lily Safra Center for Brain Sciences (ELSC), The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, 91904, Jerusalem, Israel.
| | - Liran Carmel
- Department of Genetics, The Alexander Silberman Institute of Life Sciences, Faculty of Science, The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, 91904, Jerusalem, Israel.
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33
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Liu Y, Weyrich LS, Llamas B. More Arrows in the Ancient DNA Quiver: Use of Paleoepigenomes and Paleomicrobiomes to Investigate Animal Adaptation to Environment. Mol Biol Evol 2020; 37:307-319. [PMID: 31638147 DOI: 10.1093/molbev/msz231] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Whether and how epigenetic mechanisms and the microbiome play a role in mammalian adaptation raised considerable attention and controversy, mainly because they have the potential to add new insights into the Modern Synthesis. Recent attempts to reconcile neo-Darwinism and neo-Lamarckism in a unified theory of molecular evolution give epigenetic mechanisms and microbiome a prominent role. However, supporting empirical data are still largely missing. Because experimental studies using extant animals can hardly be done over evolutionary timescales, we propose that advances in ancient DNA techniques provide a valid alternative. In this piece, we evaluate 1) the possible roles of epigenomes and microbiomes in animal adaptation, 2) advances in the retrieval of paleoepigenome and paleomicrobiome data using ancient DNA techniques, and 3) the plasticity of either and interactions between the epigenome and the microbiome, while emphasizing that it is essential to take both into account, as well as the underlying genetic factors that may confound the findings. We propose that advanced ancient DNA techniques should be applied to a wide range of past animals, so novel dynamics in animal evolution and adaption can be revealed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yichen Liu
- Australian Centre for Ancient DNA, School of Biological Sciences, Environment Institute, University of Adelaide, Adelaide, South Australia, Australia
| | - Laura S Weyrich
- Australian Centre for Ancient DNA, School of Biological Sciences, Environment Institute, University of Adelaide, Adelaide, South Australia, Australia
| | - Bastien Llamas
- Australian Centre for Ancient DNA, School of Biological Sciences, Environment Institute, University of Adelaide, Adelaide, South Australia, Australia
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34
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Affiliation(s)
- Dongju Zhang
- Key Laboratory of Western China's Environmental Systems (Ministry of Education), College of Earth Environmental Sciences, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou 730000, China.
| | - Huan Xia
- Key Laboratory of Western China's Environmental Systems (Ministry of Education), College of Earth Environmental Sciences, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou 730000, China
| | - Ting Cheng
- Key Laboratory of Western China's Environmental Systems (Ministry of Education), College of Earth Environmental Sciences, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou 730000, China
| | - Fahu Chen
- Key Laboratory of Alpine Ecology (LAE), Center for Excellence in Tibetan Plateau Earth System Sciences, Institute of Tibetan Plateau Research, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100101, China
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35
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Predicted Archaic 3D Genome Organization Reveals Genes Related to Head and Spinal Cord Separating Modern from Archaic Humans. Cells 2019; 9:cells9010048. [PMID: 31878147 PMCID: PMC7017363 DOI: 10.3390/cells9010048] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/29/2019] [Revised: 12/16/2019] [Accepted: 12/20/2019] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
High coverage sequences of archaic humans enabled the reconstruction of their DNA methylation patterns. This allowed comparing gene regulation between human groups, and linking such regulatory changes to phenotypic differences. In a previous work, a detailed comparison of DNA methylation in modern humans, archaic humans, and chimpanzees revealed 873 modern human-derived differentially methylated regions (DMRs). To understand the regulatory implications of these DMRs, we defined differentially methylated genes (DMGs) as genes that harbor DMRs in their promoter or gene body. While most of the modern human-derived DMRs could be linked to DMGs, many others remained unassigned. Here, we used information on 3D genome organization to link ~70 out of the remaining 288 unassigned DMRs to genes. Combined with the previously identified DMGs, we reinforce the enrichment of these genes with vocal and facial anatomy, and additionally find significant enrichment with the spinal column, chin, hair, and scalp. These results reveal the importance of 3D genomic organization in understanding gene regulation by DNA methylation.
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36
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