Researchers have analyzed the remains of about 5,000 humans who lived in Eurasia 34,000 years ago. DNA sequencing made it possible to understand where multiple sclerosis came from and why it is now so present in northern Europe.
To understand the present, we often have to delve into the past. This he has done right An international team of 175 researchersBy creating the largest bank of ancient human genes in the world and student DNA of our ancestors. His work has been the subject of four scientific publications in prestigious journals Nature.
Scientists have Analyzed the bones and teeth of nearly 5,000 men who lived in Western Europe and Asia 34,000 years ago. They sequenced all the DNA and compared it with modern samples, Cambridge University said in a statement. Individuals lived between the Mesolithic and Middle Ages, including the Bronze Age and the Viking period.
This enormous task allowed him Explore the history of Multiple Sclerosis (MS), a neurodegenerative disease that currently affects 1.8 million people worldwide, according to the WHO.
Genius traveled with the Yamanaya people
The disease originates from the pontic plainA region covering parts of present-day Ukraine, southwestern and western Russia, and Kazakhstan.
Research identified Genetic variants associated with increased risk About 30% of MS. These people used to “travel” with people called YamnayaSheep and cattle breeders who are migrated 5,000 years ago From the Pontic Plain In the northwest of Europe, British University continues. Variables allowed population Protects against zoonoses Of the livestock she looked after.
“Carrying MS risk genes must have been a definite advantage for Yamanaya people, even after coming to Europe, even though these genes have undeniably increased in them. Risk of developing MS“noted Professor Eske Willerslev, Fellow of St. John’s College, expert in ancient DNA analysis and director of the project, associated with the Universities of Cambridge and Copenhagen.
“A Big Step Forward”
This allows researchers to return to the past Understand the particularly high prevalence of MS in Northern Europe. The south of the European continent has almost twice as many cases as the north. Considering heredity, experts suggest that The Yamnaya people are the ancestors of most of the current inhabitants of northwestern Europe. What was since then A mystery for a long time is now better understood by researchers.
“These results surprised us all. They represent a major step forward in our understanding of the evolution of MS and others Autoimmune diseases“Dr. is a postdoctoral fellow in the Department of Zoology at the University of Cambridge and first author of the MS study. William Barry confirmed. ” to show The impact of our ancestors’ lifestyles on modern disease risk Shows how much we are the beneficiaries of the former immune system in the modern world.”
For his part, Professor Lars Fueger, co-author of the MS study and Professor and Consultant Physician at the John Radcliffe Hospital, University of Oxford, said: “It means that We can now understand and try to treat MS For what it really is: the result of genetic adaptation to certain environmental conditions occurring in our prehistory”.
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