DNA Tracks Human Origins
Definitions:
Genetic Blueprint- A assortment of DNA and genes that combine to make a blueprint, defining characteristics for the organism.
Neanderthal- An extinct primitive species of Homo Neanderthalensis which existed nearly 350,000 years ago.
Summary:
This article discuses the new discovery from DNA that some humans have evolved from the Neanderthals. In fact, 1 to 4 percent of the people in Asia and Europe was inherited from the Neanderthals. As this extinct group existed 650,000 groups, the humans today have not replaced Neanderthals, but rather assimilated them into the gene pool. This test was done in Germany, where scientists extracted genetic blueprints from three bone fragments in Neanderthal woman whom were found in a cave in Croatia. The scientists compared these DNA to modern people's DNA and discovered that European and Asian ancestry carry Neanderthal DNA. Many researchers were surprised of this finding as no one could possibly think that our people today could be related to a species that existed hundreds of thousands of years ago.
Discussion:
I myself was surprised at the fact that there are people with Neanderthal DNA living upon us. I chose this article because I thought it would be interesting to see who we are related to and evoluted from. I didn't know what my family origins were, with the exceptions of recent generations, until this article explained that people are and could be related to this species that are extinct for over 650,000 years. It further interests me as technically the Neanderthals are not extinct, but in fact living upon us. This explains the evolution of life and because the Neanderthals are similar and related to us, then their way of life might of been similar to ours today, the only factor being technology.
Questions:
Two questions came to me after reading the article:
If we are related to this species that existed thousands of years ago, are there more species that existed long before the Neanderthals that scientists have yet to discover that we are related to them too?
Because our society today is so infused with technology, how would the Neanderthals way of life be different with none of this technology?
These questions may motivate me to do further research on this topic as I am very interested on the topic of ancestry and would be interested to do additional research
These questions may motivate me to do further research on this topic as I am very interested on the topic of ancestry and would be interested to do additional research
Resources:
Picture: Gaurde, M. Human Evolution. 29 Dec. 2009. Wikimedia Commons. N.p., n.d. Web. 23
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Article: Saey, Tina Hasman. "Modern people carry around Neandertal DNA, genome reveals."
Science Reference Center. Science News, 5 June 2010. Web. 14 Sept. 2010.
<http://puffin.harker.org:2092/ehost/
detail?vid=4&hid=111&sid=6eed37e8-fea5-4c5a-b1f3-fddff982e3a6%40sessionmgr113&bda
ta=JnNpdGU9ZWhvc3QtbGl2ZQ%3d%3d#db=sch&AN=51229609>.
Science Reference Center. Science News, 5 June 2010. Web. 14 Sept. 2010.
<http://puffin.harker.org:2092/ehost/
detail?vid=4&hid=111&sid=6eed37e8-fea5-4c5a-b1f3-fddff982e3a6%40sessionmgr113&bda
ta=JnNpdGU9ZWhvc3QtbGl2ZQ%3d%3d#db=sch&AN=51229609>.
Format:
ReplyDeleteNice picture, shows what the topic is about.
Content:
Good summary, drew me into the topic. However, I think overall, some places can be better worded to make it more concise. Also, I think your second question is slightly ambiguous and confusing, since there may not be much of a difference if the question involved a different human-like species. Hope to see you continue researching this topic in the future.
Are you saying that you're surprised that there are people with Neanderthal genes? Since we share genes with fruit flies and plants.. In fact, our human genome is built up from those genes of creatures that came before, so there are genes that we share with bacteria..
ReplyDelete"650,000 groups" <-- what do you mean by this? 650k different species? Or..?
And.. Check your grammar before posting next time.. But good job overall..
Your summary was detailed, but you might want to fix some grammar and wording. I think this a huge to step to mapping human ancestry. I think the second question wasn't very related to the topic and you might want to remove it or change it. After all, common sense can help you with that. Overall, a very good post and I hope you do research this further as newer discoveries about the human race's ancestry are found.
ReplyDeleteExcellent post. It is very interesting how we are related to neanderthals. Overall, the grammar is a little bit confusing in some places, but the idea is easily expressed.Your second question is a little bit confusing and vague, but the first is an excellent one. In general, your post is exceptional and amazing.
ReplyDelete