Denisovan Genes Help Protect Papua New Guinea Inhabitants from Infections The genes of Denisovans, an ancient human spec…
Denisovan Genes Help Protect Papua New Guinea Inhabitants from Infections
The genes of Denisovans, an ancient human species, are helping the inhabitants of Papua New Guinea fight infections.
Isolated for millennia, the island's inhabitants lived under extremely harsh conditions, making them a "fantastic cocktail" for studying genetic adaptation. Modern humans arrived in Papua New Guinea from Africa around 50,000 years ago and interbred with Denisovans, who had lived in Asia for tens of thousands of years.
Today, the people of Papua New Guinea carry up to 5% Denisovan DNA in their genomes. Scientists analyzed the genomes of 54 highlanders from Mount Wilhelm, living at elevations between 2300 and 2700 meters, and 74 lowland residents from Daru Island.
They discovered that mutations likely inherited from Denisovans increase the number of immune cells in the blood of lowlanders. Denisovan gene variants influence the function of a protein called GBP2, which helps the body combat pathogens found at low altitudes, such as the malaria parasite. Meanwhile, highlanders developed mutations that increase the number of red blood cells, helping to reduce hypoxia.
