All people are relatives!
Шрифт:
The mutation occurred only in one population of ancient hominids, the rest of the individuals from this population most likely died. The death may have occurred due to some disease, infection, radiation, infection, etc., which led to a significant reduction in the population of ancient hominids, the remaining (conditional Adam and Eve) were able to survive weakened and give offspring with genetically modified muscles of the cheekbones (the zygomatic arch is the legacy of the beast-toothed lizards), these genes turned out to be dominant by mating with close relatives from other populations, this mutation became fixed and developed further in human ancestors.
Previously, it was believed that the mystery is in those genes that are different in humans and monkeys, in 2006, even a section of the genome was discovered that changed the most in humans, but this did not clarify. It is possible that the differences between a monkey and a man lie not only in different genes, but also in the same ones. Ralph Hagood and his colleagues from Duke University were able to prove the correctness of this guess. Scientists analyzed 6280 genes that are present in humans, chimpanzees and macaques. It turned out that in 575 human genes, many of which were associated with brain function and, more surprisingly, nutrition, promoters have strong differences from their counterparts in monkeys. Promoters are silent genes that, under favorable conditions, perform a regulatory function, that is, they direct the work of other genes. Promoters, if necessary, produce proteins, which in turn affect the work of other genes. Scientists considered this a sign of positive evolutionary selection, which helped us become who we are. Interestingly, the sections of DNA that most strongly distinguish a monkey from a human are associated with brain function and nutrition. More than 100 genes from 575 distinct sites are associated with the metabolism of carbohydrates, and especially glucose. Heywood believes that once a person received energy for brain development due to changes in the diet – the transition from fruits to tubers and roots.
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