Did Neanderthal Gene Boost Our Immunity?

Neanderthal genes boosted our immunity, a pair of scientific studies has claimed.

16:48 11 January 2016

A pair of scientific studies published in The American Journal of Human Genetics, key genes in the immune system come from our the Neanderthals and Denisovans. The studies also suggested that we have them to thank for being able to fight off pathogens.

 

"The evidence suggests that this genetic region contributes to the immune system of modern day humans," Dr Michael Dannemann of the Max Planck Institute for Evolutionary Anthropology in Leipzig, Germany, told BBC News.

 

"At some point in history it might have been an advantage to have these Neanderthal genes in terms of fighting off infections or lethal pathogens from 10,000 years ago.

"It could also still be an advantage today but this is difficult to pinpoint."

 

Dr Lluis Quintana-Murci of the Unit of Human Evolutionary Genetics, Institut Pasteur, Paris, said the findings came as a big surprise.

 

"Our big surprise was to find that this gene region has such a high Neanderthal ancestry because this region has been shown to have a major biological relevance in host survival against pathogens," he said.

 

"Maybe we should thank Neanderthals for having given us diversity in innate immunity to survive better against pathogens."