Comparison of Neanderthal, Denisovan and modern human DNA
Neanderthals who lived at high latitudes were sensitive to changes in time.
Probability of being a ‘morning person’ gene that wakes up easily ↑
A study has shown that the reason people who are ‘morning people’ wake up early may be due to Neanderthal genes (DNA).
The New York Times, Wall Street Journal, etc. reported on the 14th that a study showing that certain Neanderthal genes affect sleep and circadian rhythm appeared in the scientific journal ‘Genome Biology and Evolution’.
Professor Tony Capra’s research team at the University of California conducted a study comparing the DNA of modern humans with the DNA of ancient Western humans, Neanderthals, and ancient Eastern humans, Denisovans. They used genetic information from hundreds of thousands of modern people with European ancestry.
As a result of the study, a total of 246 ancient human genes related to daily biological rhythms were identified. As a result of comparison with modern human DNA, it was found that people with more genes wake up earlier in the morning.
Professor Capra explained, “Early lifespan and early awakening are related to biological rhythms that quickly adapt to natural day and night changes.”
The first humans emerged from Africa about 3 million years ago and advanced to the Eurasian continent about 700,000 years ago. After 300,000 years, humans in the west of Eurasia evolved into Neanderthals, and humans in the east evolved into Denisovans.
Unlike Africa, where the length of day and night is the same, Eurasia has large differences in sunrise and sunset times depending on the season. Therefore, Neanderthals and Denisovans developed new biological rhythms that quickly adapted to the time of day and night over a long period of time.
Approximately 2% of the genes of today’s Europeans and Asians appear to have come from Neanderthals. Therefore, there are people in Europe and Asia who can quickly understand and adapt to natural day and night changes due to the influence of certain genes from Neanderthals. The research team explains that these people are natural ‘morning people.’
On the other hand, Princeton University professor Joshua Urkey said that while some Neanderthal genomes may be related to morning people, the variables that determine morning people are very complex.
Source: Donga
Mark Jones is a world traveler and journalist for News Rebeat. With a curious mind and a love of adventure, Mark brings a unique perspective to the latest global events and provides in-depth and thought-provoking coverage of the world at large.