Category: Pre-history
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We owe our immune system to the Neanderthals
DNA-research suggests that the structure of our immune system originated from the Neanderthals. A research group at Bonn University discovered a novel receptor that allows the immune system to recognize dangerous invaders. Because this receptor is present in the genes of Neanderthals but is absent in those of early humans, it is likely that modern…
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DNA proofs that Native Americans descended from Europeans
Scientists have researched a 24,000 year old skeleton that was discovered in the 1920’s in Siberia. First of all, they found out the remains belonged to a boy. They were able to take some DNA from his arm. The results surprised the researchers: The DNA showed that more than 30% of Native Americans alive today…
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Feeling sick? Maybe you have the Neanderthal-virus
British scientists have discovered Neanderthal’ viruses in the DNA of modern sick humans. They made their discovery as they studied DNA samples of these ancient hominids and then compared them to the DNA of cancer patients alive today. As it turned out, the same DNA strings appeared in both samples. This suggests that these viruses were already…
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The dog is a European invention
Until recently, it was unclear when the first dog was domesticated. It was believed that domesticated dogs originated in East Asia about 15.000 years ago. Recently, an international research-project shows that the first dogs were in fact European, and they were bred about 30.000 years ago. Regarding the fact that other animals like pigs, cows…
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Our ancestors hunted and gathered far longer than assumed
It was long thought that the hunter-gathering lifestyle disappeared when farming was introduced, around 5000 BC. Since farming is a much more effective way of producing food, either by growing plants or livestock, the hunter-gathering lifestyle was obsolete. Moreover, no archaeological evidence was found that hunter-gathering survived. But a new study, focused on archaeological findings…
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Women’s hands predominant in prehistoric paintings
New research suggests that the handprints in most prehistoric paintings in caves were the work of women. Researchers at Penn State University have studied the dimensions of the hands and came to this conclusion. The researchers used the conclusions of a previous investigation of biologist John Manning. He studied the relationship between the size of…
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Later date for exodus from Africa
Our early African ancestors may have left the continent later than thought. It is believed that our human forefathers left Africa some 200.000 years ago. But recent studies, based on the genetic material of fossil skeletons, show that a much later date is probably more accurate. The first exodus from Africa happened some 70.000 years…