Increased fertility in women with Neanderthal Gene
Although the Neanderthals became extinct approximately 30,000 years ago, but even today, the genes of the “Relatives” are found in us humans. This, according to scientific studies, impact on our health. And also on the fertility of women, as Researchers now report.
Neanderthals and modern humans had about 100,000 years ago common children. The still has an impact on the human genome. According to experts, the genetic heritage of risks influence for a number of diseases such as depression, but can also protect against diseases. And it influence on the fertility of women.
Less bleeding and fewer miscarriages
As the Max-Planck-Institute for evolutionary anthropology, stated in a note, has one of the three women inherited in Europe, the Receptor for progesterone from Neanderthals – a gene variant with increased fertility, less bleeding at the beginning of the pregnancy and less abortions in the connection.
This emerges from a study published in the journal “Molecular Biology and Evolution” by researchers at the Max-Planck-Institute for evolutionary anthropology (MPI-EVA) in Leipzig, Germany, and the Karolinska Institutet in Sweden.
Every third woman in Europe has inherited the progesterone receptor
“The progesterone receptor is an example of how favourable genetic variants that have been transmitted through the mixing with Neanderthals to the modern humans, effects on humans living today can have,” explains Hugo Zeberg, researchers at the MPI-EVA and the Karolinska Institutet, who conducted the latest study, together with Janet Kelso and Svante Pääbo.
The data suggest that progesterone is a hormone that plays in the menstrual cycle and in pregnancy an important role.
Analysis of Biobank data from over 450,000 people – including 244,000 from women show that almost every third woman has inherited, in Europe, the progesterone receptor by Neanderthals. According to the report, 29 percent carry one copy of the Neanderthals-receptor, and three percent have two copies.
A favourable effect on the fertility
“The proportion of women who have inherited this Gene is about ten times as high as most of the other Neanderthal gene variants,” says Hugo Zeberg. “Our results suggest that the Neanderthal variant of the receptor has a beneficial effect on fertility,” explains the researcher.
The study shows that women who have the Neanderthal variant of the receptor, have births in General, less bleeding at the beginning of the pregnancy and also less to fail. In addition, you bring more babies to the world.
Molecular analyses have shown that these women produce more progesterone receptors in their cells, to births what is an increased sensitivity to progesterone and, thus, to protect against early failure, and bleeding can result. (ad)