Ancient genes explain why Spaniards are shorter than Northern Europeans

Height differences between Europeans due to genetic factors, are the subject of a recent study published in the journal Nature. This study, based on DNA analysis of more than 5,000 human remains dating back more than 30,000 years, sheds light on physiological evolution of Europeans. In Spain, where average height is slightly below the OECD average (174 centimeters for men and 163 for women), there is a strong genetic influence in these traits.

The study shows that in addition to height, some ancient genes are also associated with height. predisposition to diseases such as multiple sclerosis or Alzheimer’s disease.. Despite advances in economic development and social and sanitary conditions, genetics continues to be a determining factor in the health and physical characteristics of the population.

A curious reason why Spaniards are shorter

Researchers from the Universities of Cambridge, Copenhagen and the University of California Berkeleand developed the most extensive bank of ancient DNA in the world, sequencing the genes of people who lived in Europe and Asia millennia ago. When comparing these data with DNA of modern Europeansrevealed the dispersion of genes over time and their influence on physiological characteristics and susceptibility to disease.

Similarly, they found that genes associated with multiple sclerosis were introduced 5,000 years ago by the Yamna culture, with mixed evolutionary benefits. The study also reveals Morphological variability of European populations caused by three migration waves, affecting aspects such as height, fair skin and genetic predisposition to diseases such as diabetes and Alzheimer’s disease. These findings provide new insight into the relationship between ancient genetics and modern health.

Ancient and modern DNA

An extensive analysis of five thousand human remains from a thousand years ago shows that differences in genetic inheritance over time formed various communities in Europe. These differences are due to migrations that occurred 45,000 years ago, which were uniquely linked between northern and southern Europeans, leaving a diverse genetic heritage.

Each of three great migrations of Homo sapiens, coming from Eurasia, the Middle East and the Siberian steppes., provided a unique genetic gift. By comparing ancient DNA with modern DNA, researchers have discovered the genetic predisposition of some Europeans to diseases such as multiple sclerosis, depression or Alzheimer’s disease, providing valuable information for developing targeted therapeutic approaches.

Popularizer Jorge Alcalde explained in La Linterna that to obtain ancient DNA, fossil remains with traces of DNA are extracted. It is then compared to the modern DNA of the people donating blood. This comparison reveals how much ancient DNA is preserved in current DNA. Knowing the genetic background helps identify targets for therapy, such as inhibiting certain genes or using drugs to counteract the effects of those genes in the body.

Largest genetic study of ancient DNA in the Iberian Peninsula

He Largest genetic study of ancient DNA in the Iberian Peninsula, led by researchers from Harvard University and Pompeu Fabra University, sheds light on the complex evolution of populations over 8,000 years. The study, published in the journal Science, involved more than 100 scientists and focused on analyzing the genomes of 403 Iberian individuals that lived from 6000 BC. and 2,900 modern Iberians.

One of the most surprising discoveries showed that mass migration from Eastern Europe almost completely replaced Iberian men during the Bronze Age.e., approximately 4000 years ago. Analysis of the Y chromosome, which is passed from father to son, made it possible to trace the paternal line and discovered that around 2500 BC. The Iberians began to coexist with migrants from the Russian steppes. Later, around 2000 BC, the local patrilineal lines were replaced by the migrant-derived lineage R 1b-m269, in a period spanning over four centuries.

the tomb of Castillejo del Bonete, which contains the remains of a couple with identified genetic dynamics., was one of the attractions. Although the woman had entirely local ancestors, the man was descended from settlers who migrated from the Russian steppes more than 4,000 years ago. This pattern has been observed elsewhere, suggesting a change in the genetic composition of the Iberian male population.

The analysis also focused on genetic influences from North Africa to the peninsularevealing surprising data about the mixing of ancestors in different historical periods, especially in the Roman era.

This interdisciplinary approach combining genetics with archaeology, anthropology and historical recordsprovides a comprehensive understanding of the evolution of the Iberian population and highlights the complexity of the factors that have shaped the region’s genetic and cultural diversity over time.