The ancient Neanderthal hand in severe COVID-19

[Klaralven]

Since first appearing in late 2019, the novel virus, SARS-CoV-2, has had a range of impacts on those it infects. Some people become severely ill with COVID-19, the disease caused by the virus, and require hospitalization, whereas others have mild symptoms or are even asymptomatic.

There are several factors that influence a person's susceptibility to having a severe reaction, such as their age and the existence of other medical conditions. But one's genetics also plays a role, and, over the last few months, research by the COVID-19 Host Genetics Initiative has shown that genetic variants in one region on chromosome 3 impose a larger risk that their carriers will develop a severe form of the disease.

Now, a new study, published in Nature, has revealed that this genetic region is almost identical to that of a 50,000-year old Neanderthal from southern Europe. Further analysis has shown that, through interbreeding, the variants came over to the ancestors of modern humans about 60,000 years ago.

"It is striking that the genetic heritage from Neanderthals has such tragic consequences during the current pandemic," said Professor Svante Pääbo, who leads the Human Evolutionary Genomics Unit at the Okinawa Institute of Science and Technology Graduate University (OIST).

https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2020/09/200930094758.htm

This may also account for why severe Covid cases seem comparatively rare in sub-Saharan Africa.

[lunatica]

1. This is amazing science.

Future development in genetic science is going to change future human history.

[Faux pas]

2. Whoa!

Fascinating, thanks for posting Klaralven

[peggysue2]

3. I told my husband about this article this morning

He has one of the highest Neanderthal %'s at 23 and Me and he has diabetes. Though he's been thinking of finally getting his hair cut (hasn't been to the barber since early March), he's now thinking a pony tail winter is in his future.

We just had an acquaintance die of Covid. Not worth the risk.

[Squinch]

6. I have the highest % at 23 and Me too. But no diabetes. But this is kind of terrifying.

[peggysue2]

21. Yeah, it is scary because it just adds to the risk factor

But as soon as I told him the details of the study, the hair cut was a goner. Which means he'll be looking like Jerry Garcia for the foreseeable future.

Stay safe, Squinch.

[ProfessorGAC]

7. Tell Him To Rock The Pony

I do, and it has nothing to do with COVID!
It doesn't seem to bother anybody.
Of course, I'm retired so I have no concerns about professional appearance anymore.

[peggysue2]

22. My husband is retired as well

So, that part's no problem. The long hair just bothers the hell out of him. He was a buttoned down, suit type in his former life, so this is a big departure. But he bought a Philly Phanatic headband for around the house (something I never thought I'd see) and wears a baseball cap when he goes out.

Gotta do what we gotta do. The ponytail is a-coming!

[ProfessorGAC]

23. Suit &Tie Here Too

Last few years, things loosened up.
No coat, then no ties. Jeans were frowned upon, but anything generally professional.
Still, I had direct contact with $100 & $200 million customers, so I needed a reasonably benign appearance.
Had a moustache, but that's it.
I wanted longer hair, so when I announced my intention to retire in 14 months, I started letting it grow.
Got it trimmed twice, but the COVID hit.
So, I'm probably closing in on a year since a haircut.

[peggysue2]

26. There you go.

My husband was a corporate accountant and finance person. The company did become more casual over time. But conservative hair cuts and facial hair were still big issues.

He'll get use to the longer length. I thought it funny the other day when he asked me what he could do to avoid tangles after washing his 'longer' locks. Showed him where my conditioner was and gave him a flat brush to ease the tangles out. Also, suggested he dry his hair by patting his head and squeezing the ends instead of ruffling it up with the towel.

The look of bewilderment on his face was priceless. LOL.

He'll get it eventually.

[ProfessorGAC]

28. Funny Stuff!

Have a good evening.

[Baitball Blogger]

8. How do you find out what percentage of your DNA is Neanderthal?

[fleur-de-lisa]

12. Have you submitted your DNA to 23andMe?

If so, log in and go to the 'Ancestry' tab. 'Neanderthal Ancestry' is near the top. Click on 'View Your Report.'

[panader0]

13. I submitted mine twice, via saliva.

I followed the instructions correctly and they informed me that they had no result.
So they sent me the second one and it also had no result. I have no DNA. What's it like folks?
(I may be extraterrestrial.)

[fleur-de-lisa]

15. Wow. That's weird.

My brother and my daughter also submitted DNA to 23AndMe. No problems processing their results.

It's pretty interesting. The percentages of my ethnicity are pretty much what I thought they would be. My parents started geneology research in the 1970s, so I have a lot of information that was recorded in family Bibles.

One thing I find to be pretty cool is that every few years they are able to refine the results and pinpoint places of origin for your ancestors, I guess because they are constantly processing more DNA.

Odd story: my grandfather thought he had Native American blood, even though he had blond hair and blue eyes. Old family gossip-mongers suggested that his line had African and/or Native American ancestry. Not a drop. We're the whitest of the white people, with English, Irish, German, Swedish, and Swiss ancestry. I was hoping to find something at least a little interesting. Nada.

[CloudWatcher]

25. Better URL

For alien dna results you might need to go to https://www.23andme.com/area51 .. not sure why they didn't let you know directly!? Oh, I just tested and it's blocked from terrestrial IP addresses, so you will need an off-planet VPN to see the web page.

For background ... https://www.ancient-code.com/scientists-find-alien-code-embedded-in-human-dna-evidence-of-ancient-alien-engineers/

[Spider Jerusalem]

29. The SNP is not tested for by 23andMe's genotyping chip

but it IS present on AncestryDNA's chip; if you've done AncestryDNA, the specific risk allele is rs10490770 (the Neanderthal variant is A:A at that locus, the modern human variant is T:T).

[octoberlib]

4. This is so interesting. Thanks for posting!

[BamaRefugee]

5. Well trump is 100% Neanderthal, so what's his story????

[uriel1972]

9. The evidence shows Neanderthals

had complex cultural and technological capabilities which the spittle-flecked trumpanzee does not possess.

[ProfessorGAC]

10. Not Sure About That

His brain capacity seems more Australopithecus.
Neanderthal would be a couple steps up for PINO.

[panader0]

14. Maybe a Chrome-maga man.

[marble falls]

24. A shining example of our beginnings.

[niyad]

17. Isn't it more cro-magnon? Anthro people? Help!!

[iscooterliberally]

18. Trump is 350 pounds of bat shit stuffed into a 239 pound bag. n/t

[paleotn]

30. I'm not convinced he's any species of hominid.

More like some form of orange slim you scrape off your shoe.

[Dem2]

11. Seems I'm less than 2% Neanderthal

I guess this is on the low end as 23andMe suggests 90% of people they've tested have more Neanderthal in them.

[Bernardo de La Paz]

16. Explains why Trumpanzees think they're immune: interbred and neanderthal. . . . nt

[bucolic_frolic]

19. I think they're calling me an Ape Man that strayed from my clan

what did my ancestors see in this temptress, and why do I have to suffer for it?

Worrisome for southern Europeans

[AllaN01Bear]

20. ohm myyy. as mr . spock would say" fascinating

a late friend of mine and i talked about this and she had postulated that modern man and Neanderthals did intermix and did interbreed. justification.

[Casandia]

27. My Neanderthal DNA is over 97%

And my husband’s is over 91%. This is pretty alarming.

[ihas2stinkyfeet]

31. ya know. i have an autoimmune disease

and i have a serious suspicion that there is a strong link between autoimmune diseases and neanderthal genes.
in my family, it is the gingers that are sick. those w black hair, blond hair or red hair are mostly fine. but us gingers? allllll fucking sick.