1
|
Zeberg H, Jakobsson M, Pääbo S. The genetic changes that shaped Neandertals, Denisovans, and modern humans. Cell 2024; 187:1047-1058. [PMID: 38367615 DOI: 10.1016/j.cell.2023.12.029] [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: 08/16/2023] [Revised: 11/20/2023] [Accepted: 12/20/2023] [Indexed: 02/19/2024]
Abstract
Modern human ancestors diverged from the ancestors of Neandertals and Denisovans about 600,000 years ago. Until about 40,000 years ago, these three groups existed in parallel, occasionally met, and exchanged genes. A critical question is why modern humans, and not the other two groups, survived, became numerous, and developed complex cultures. Here, we discuss genetic differences among the groups and some of their functional consequences. As more present-day genome sequences become available from diverse groups, we predict that very few, if any, differences will distinguish all modern humans from all Neandertals and Denisovans. We propose that the genetic basis of what constitutes a modern human is best thought of as a combination of genetic features, where perhaps none of them is present in each and every present-day individual.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Hugo Zeberg
- Max Planck Institute for Evolutionary Anthropology, Deutscher Platz 6, 04103 Leipzig, Germany; Department of Physiology and Pharmacology, Karolinska Institutet, 17165 Stockholm, Sweden.
| | - Mattias Jakobsson
- Department of Organismal Biology, Uppsala University, 75236 Uppsala, Sweden
| | - Svante Pääbo
- Max Planck Institute for Evolutionary Anthropology, Deutscher Platz 6, 04103 Leipzig, Germany; Okinawa Institute of Science and Technology, Onnason 904-0495, Okinawa, Japan.
| |
Collapse
|
2
|
Riesmeijer SA, Kamali Z, Ng M, Drichel D, Piersma B, Becker K, Layton TB, Nanchahal J, Nothnagel M, Vaez A, Hennies HC, Werker PMN, Furniss D, Nolte IM. A genome-wide association meta-analysis implicates Hedgehog and Notch signaling in Dupuytren's disease. Nat Commun 2024; 15:199. [PMID: 38172110 PMCID: PMC10764787 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-023-44451-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/07/2022] [Accepted: 12/13/2023] [Indexed: 01/05/2024] Open
Abstract
Dupuytren's disease (DD) is a highly heritable fibrotic disorder of the hand with incompletely understood etiology. A number of genetic loci, including Wnt signaling members, have been previously identified. Our overall aim was to identify novel genetic loci, to prioritize genes within the loci for functional studies, and to assess genetic correlation with associated disorders. We performed a meta-analysis of six DD genome-wide association studies from three European countries and extensive bioinformatic follow-up analyses. Leveraging 11,320 cases and 47,023 controls, we identified 85 genome-wide significant single nucleotide polymorphisms in 56 loci, of which 11 were novel, explaining 13.3-38.1% of disease variance. Gene prioritization implicated the Hedgehog and Notch signaling pathways. We also identified a significant genetic correlation with frozen shoulder. The pathways identified highlight the potential for new therapeutic targets and provide a basis for additional mechanistic studies for a common disorder that can severely impact hand function.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Sophie A Riesmeijer
- University of Groningen, University Medical Center Groningen, Department of Plastic Surgery, Groningen, The Netherlands.
- University of Groningen, University Medical Center Groningen, Department of Epidemiology, Groningen, The Netherlands.
| | - Zoha Kamali
- University of Groningen, University Medical Center Groningen, Department of Epidemiology, Groningen, The Netherlands
- Department of bioinformatics, School of Advanced Medical Technologies, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Isfahan, Iran
| | - Michael Ng
- Nuffield Department of Orthopaedics, Rheumatology, and Musculoskeletal Science, Botnar Research Centre, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
| | - Dmitriy Drichel
- Cologne Center for Genomics, University of Cologne, Cologne, Germany
- Faculty of Medicine and the Cologne University Hospital, Cologne, Germany
| | - Bram Piersma
- University of Groningen, Groningen, The Netherlands
| | - Kerstin Becker
- Cologne Center for Genomics, University of Cologne, Cologne, Germany
| | | | | | - Michael Nothnagel
- Cologne Center for Genomics, University of Cologne, Cologne, Germany
- Faculty of Medicine and the Cologne University Hospital, Cologne, Germany
| | - Ahmad Vaez
- University of Groningen, University Medical Center Groningen, Department of Epidemiology, Groningen, The Netherlands
- Department of bioinformatics, School of Advanced Medical Technologies, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Isfahan, Iran
| | - Hans Christian Hennies
- Faculty of Medicine and the Cologne University Hospital, Cologne, Germany
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Huddersfield, Huddersfield, UK
| | - Paul M N Werker
- University of Groningen, University Medical Center Groningen, Department of Plastic Surgery, Groningen, The Netherlands
| | - Dominic Furniss
- Nuffield Department of Orthopaedics, Rheumatology, and Musculoskeletal Science, Botnar Research Centre, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
| | - Ilja M Nolte
- University of Groningen, University Medical Center Groningen, Department of Epidemiology, Groningen, The Netherlands
| |
Collapse
|