Publication detail

Was slower replication of mtDNA the reason for extinction of Homo sapiens neanderthalensis?

Original Title

Type

abstract

Language

English

Original Abstract

Modern techniques of nucleic acid isolation and the processing of archaeological samples are constantly leading to advances and new insights into the genetic information of prehistoric Neandetals or Denisovans. Today, based on the latest data, we assume that modern humans Homo Sapiens sapiens are related to Nenadrtals and share 3-4% of their genetic information. What is the reason, then, that the Earth today is exclusively inhabited by us as representatives of the so-called modern human race? We compared the number of G-quadruplexes in genomic and mitochondrial DNA of H. sapiens, Neanderthals and Denisovans and found a significant difference in mtDNA in the first place. In mtDNA, G-quadruplexes are mostly localized in completely identical places with one exception. But this exception is substantial, it is a long sequence of guanines directly in the D-loop region of mtDNA, which is responsible for mitochondrial DNA replication. This region is directly responsible for the quantity of mitochondries and thus also for efficient energy metabolism of the cell. Therefore, it seems that the selection advantage of better mtDNA replication in modern humans may have been one of the aspects that led to the extinction of Neanderthals.

Keywords

G-quadruplex, Homo neanderthalensis, mtDNA

Released

28. 11. 2024

Publisher

Vysoké učení technické v Brně, Fakulta chemická

Location

Purkyňova 464/118, 612 00 Brno

ISBN

978-80-214-6298-4

Book

Studentská odborná konference Chemie je život 2024 Sborník abstraktů

Edition number

První

Pages from

Pages to

Pages count

URL

https://www.fch.vut.cz/vav/konference/sok/vystupy/sbornik-abstraktu-2024-p276490

BibTex

@misc{BUT197150,
  author="Lucie {Šislerová} and Václav {Brázda} and Jean-Louis {Mergny} and Anne {Cucchiarini}",
  title="Was slower replication of mtDNA the reason for extinction of Homo sapiens neanderthalensis?",
  booktitle="Studentská odborná konference Chemie je život 2024
Sborník abstraktů",
  year="2024",
  edition="První",
  pages="49--49",
  publisher="Vysoké učení technické v Brně, Fakulta chemická",
  address="Purkyňova 464/118, 612 00 Brno",
  isbn="978-80-214-6298-4",
  url="https://www.fch.vut.cz/vav/konference/sok/vystupy/sbornik-abstraktu-2024-p276490",
  note="abstract"
}