Evolutionary and functional analyses of LRP5 in archaic and extant modern humans.

ABSTRACT:

Background

The human lineage has undergone a postcranial skeleton gracilization (i.e. lower bone mass and strength relative to body size) compared to other primates and archaic populations such as the Neanderthals. This gracilization has been traditionally explained by differences in the mechanical load that our ancestors exercised. However, there is growing evidence that gracilization could also be genetically influenced.

Results

We have analyzed the LRP5 gene, which is known to be associated with high bone mineral density conditions, from an evolutionary and functional point of view. Taking advantage of the published genomes of archaic Homo populations, our results suggest that this gene has a complex evolutionary history both between archaic and living humans and within l

SUBMITTER: Roca-Ayats N 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC11131306 | biostudies-literature | 2024 May

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature