Scientists may have uncovered the reason behind the big nose. A gene passed down from Neanderthals to humans can cause a large nose, according to new research.
It is known that the Homo sapiens species, which includes today’s humans, lived between 100 thousand and 200 thousand years ago. neanderthals It is a known fact that they met and some of them were together. It was even revealed that the Neanderthals’ sexual relations with homo sapiens may have brought about the end.
So, what remains of Neanderthals today, with the combination of the two species? A new study has offered yet another answer to this question. Some people have Big noses may be based on Neanderthal DNA revealed.
The size of our nose may be due to a gene passed down from Neanderthals to humans:
Scientists have examined the DNA of more than 6,000 people in Latin America. Then, he compared the facial features of the people with this genetic information. In the comparison, determining the facial features of the people 33 genome regions noted.
Of these 33 sites, 26 also appeared to be parallel in other peoples in Europe, Africa, and Asia. In other words, the regions of the genome that define the facial features of people almost all over the world. were repeating each other.
Our connection with Neanderthals was seen in one area in particular:
When scientists focused on the region called “1q32.3”, they found traces of Neanderthals. This region of the genome is a crossover from Neanderthals to Homo sapiens. determining the height of the nose (Z-axis) was the region.
So why did Neanderthals have a big nose? The answer to this question was given by the gene known as ATF3, located in the same region. Neanderthals, especially in cold conditions, where the gene evolved by natural selection to ensure their survival It was revealed that it caused the nose to become large.
The function of the gene carried to Homo sapiens was actually the same in us. Gen aimed to help people adapt and survive the cold conditions of that time.
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