A team of scientists has analyzed 230 samples of ancient genetic material to analyze the impact of the introduction of agriculture in Europe 8,000 years ago. / Fotolia
Introduction agriculture in Europe 8,000 years ago changed the way of life of the inhabitants of the continent and resulted in a series of adaptations that were reflected in our DNA.
Study , published in the journal Nature and led by Harvard Medical School (USA) from 28 research centers, has allowed the analysis of 230 samples of ancient genetic material -15 of them The Cave Mirador in Atapuerca (Burgos) – with which it has created a portrait of the evolution of the people of Europe. Scientists thus reveal the genetic adaptations that occurred in the transition from hunting to agriculture.
have identified genes associated with height, the ability to digest lactose, the levels of vitamin D and the blue eyes
” Samples have been collected from the last 8,000 years of European prehistory (including some of Central Asia) from different periods and regions to have an overview of adaptive challenges that have occurred on this continent over time, “explains Sync to Carles Lalueza-Fox, a researcher at the Institute of Evolutionary Biology (CSIC-Universidad Pompeu Fabra) and co-author.
The variants found corresponding to genes associated with altitude the ability to digest lactose in adulthood, the metabolism of fatty acids, vitamin D, skin pigmentation or blue eye color, among others, and explain the adaptation of European establishment agriculture at high latitudes.
“The clear skin pigmentation have been necessary to supplement vitamin D in agricultural diets, celiac disease-related genes might have advantages to prevent vitamin deficiencies in this new type of power and immunity genes probably reflect adaptations to pathogens that come from contact with domestic animals “, specific Lalueza- Fox.
Other variations in genes include the persistence of the enzyme lactase, which allows digest milk in adulthood and appears in Europe only 4,000 years ago, and mutations involved in the blue color of the eyes, prevalent in the Mesolithic and present in northern Europe.
various Ancestors
The work also supports the idea the first European farmers were from old Anatolia (now Turkey), and provides details on how the different groups were mingling and migrating.
“The Neolithic Revolution is perhaps the most important transition in human prehistory. Now we have evidence that there was a flow of population was of Anatolia to Europe and brought with them agriculture. For more than 40 years was thought to be impossible to solve this issue, “explains Ron Pinhasi, associate professor of archeology at University College Dublin (Ireland) and co-author of the research.
The Mesolithic common base is very important, hence the great similarities between all European
The study also confirms that European today are the product of three substrates majority population. Mesolithic hunter-gatherers, Neolithic farmers and people of the steppes entering the Bronze Age
“Depending on areas of the continent, dominated either. In Iberia have a little less Neolithic and Mesolithic in northern Europe, and less of the steppes in the center and north of the continent, “explains Carles Lalueza- Fox.
Jose Maria Bermudez de Castro, researcher at the National Research Centre on Human Evolution (CENIEH) and co-author of the study, tells SINC that the differences between northern and southern Europe have an environmental component due to factors such as diet and light, but also they based on the fact that migration from southwestern Asia occurred at different times, and were different tribes.
“However, Mesolithic common basis is also very important. Hence the great similarities among all Europeans, who only recently received more specific influences of other peoples from Africa and Asia “, specifies the scientist.
The difference in height
Among the differences, the research highlights the stature northerners are higher and the lower South. The people of northern falls more heavily on the populations of the Eurasian steppe, which, by the known facts were more height, and the people of the south is akin to a greater extent with groups of Neolithic and Copper Age of the Iberian peninsula, they are supposed to shorter
Among the differences, the research highlights the stature. northerners are higher and the southern lower
In this part of the study had a relevant role analyzing DNA samples from 15 individuals of this period, dated between 4,800 and 4,200 years ago, from the Cave of El Mirador in the Sierra de Atapuerca (Burgos).
“We found that stature has been selected from a decreasing in the Iberian peninsula since the early Neolithic to the Chalcolithic (Copper Age), that is, that more and more variants associated with short stature appeared. Probably this trend has also occurred in other regions of southern Europe which do not yet have samples, “concrete Lalueza-Fox.
” Recently, it has been observed in samples Current Sardinia and has been attributed to issues of insularity. It could be something related to the warmer climate of the Mediterranean area and the resources available, but we do not know, “says the scientist.
Original article here
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