Papua New Guineans, genetically isolated for 50,000 years, carry Denisovan genes that help their immune system

[Bayard]

Papua New Guineans, genetically isolated for 50,000 years, carry Denisovan genes that help their immune system, study suggests
Genes inherited from Denisovans, extinct human relatives, may help Papua New Guineans in the lowlands fight off infection, while mutations to red blood cells may help highlanders live at altitude.

Papua New Guineans, who have been genetically isolated for millennia, carry unique genes that helped them fight off infection — and some of those genes come from our extinct human cousins, the Denisovans.
The research also found that highlanders and lowlanders evolved different mutations to help them adapt to their wildly different environments.

"New Guineans are unique as they have been isolated since they settled in New Guinea more than 50,000 years ago," co-senior study author François-Xavier Ricaut, a biological anthropologist at the French National Center for Scientific Research (CNRS), told Live Science in an email.

Not only is the predominantly mountainous terrain of the island country particularly challenging, but infectious diseases are also responsible for more than 40% of deaths.
Locals therefore had to find a biological and cultural strategy to adapt, which means that the population of Papua New Guinea is a "fantastic cocktail" to study genetic adaptation, Ricaut said.

Modern humans first arrived in Papua New Guinea from Africa around 50,000 years ago. There, they interbred with Denisovans who'd been living in Asia for tens of thousands of years. As a result of this ancient interbreeding, Papua New Guineans carry up to 5% Denisovan DNA in their genomes.

https://www.livescience.com/health/genetics/papua-new-guineans-genetically-isolated-for-50000-years-carry-denisovan-genes-that-help-their-immune-system-study-suggests

[mopinko]

1. i have a pet theory that autoimmune disease is caused by these non-sapien genes.

you’re fine til u get a virus that wakes it up, then, bam, the alarms go off in your immune system.

[LT Barclay]

2. Very interesting that they are finding the Denisovians in more places. I hope they find a fossil skeleton soon.

[oasis]

3. Interesting K&R

[JoseBalow]

4. Papua New Guinea's 'barely contacted' tribes

Over 40 uncontacted tribes live in West Papua region in Indonesia, although contact is usually established upon their initial encounter. While it is difficult for journalists and organizations to enter West Papua, no government agency is dedicated to protecting isolated indigenous groups. Human rights organizations, including Survival International, have argued that there is a need to raise awareness of the existence of uncontacted tribes, for example, to prevent the development of infrastructure near their lands. On the other hand, remaining vague about the exact location and size of the tribe may help to avoid encouraging contact.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Uncontacted_peoples

[Bayard]

5. And to prevent them from being infected with our diseases

Thanks for this.