Our Neanderthal ancestors were more sensitive to pain than we were; Scientists Specify Responsible Genes- Technology News, Firstpost

FP TrendsJuly 24, 2020 18:04:21 IST

Neanderthals were hunters and gatherers, and therefore led very physically stressful lives. But a recent study has revealed that these ice age beings had less ability to withstand pain than modern humans.

Rude ancient human relatives have now been extinct for 40,000 years, but evolutionary geneticists have discovered that they had three mutations in one gene that brings painful sensations to the brain and spinal cord. The mutated version of the gene encoding a Nav1.7 protein was found on both sets of chromosomes in various Neanderthal genomes. Is suggests that the genetic mutation was quite common in the entire population.

The study was carried out by researchers from the Max Planck Institute for Evolutionary Anthropology in Leipzig, Germany and the Karolinska Institute in Stockholm. The results have been published in the magazine. Current biology Thursday July 23.

The image of Neanderthals as stooped ape men dissipated decades ago, but some scientists fear that recent research may contribute to reviving it. Image: UZH

What’s even more interesting is that some humans today carry these Neanderthal variants of the Nav1.7 sodium channel. This channel passed ions such as sodium and potassium through the cell membrane, creating a fast-flowing current through which the cell could send electrical signals.

Neanderthals and their Asian relatives, the Denisovans, had largely evolved apart from the predecessors of modern humans. But these three closely related species mixed together, leading to various genetic variations.

According to the researchers, the sodium channel is important for “impulse generation and conduction in peripheral pain pathways.”

Now they began to study the presence of this mutation in modern humans and studied pain questionnaires from more than 362,000 people in the UK.

Data from the questionnaire were compared with their genetic profile, and people with the Neanderthal variant of the Nav1.7 channel were found to experience “pain more often than those without.”