Posted on 06/06/2020 7:55:12 AM PDT by blam
Variant Bio has spent the last several years scouring the world for genetic outliers in human beings. It found a small group of “outlier humans” with special variations in their DNA that could affect disease risk and eventually be used to develop medicines to improve human life.
Founded in New York, the 10-person startup’s lead geneticist Stephane Castel is focusing on the DNA of Sherpa people living at high altitudes in Nepal and Himalayas. Their unique genetic characteristics allow them to live healthy lives with blood oxygen levels far below what most humans need. Most people in high altitudes suffer from hypoxia, which is the absence of enough oxygen in the tissues to sustain bodily functions.
“They [Sherpa people] don’t suffer any ill health effects,” Castel told Bloomberg. “It’s incredible.”
Castel’s team is betting on the sequencing of Sherpa DNA, which could lead to discoveries of new superior traits that would aid in the development of novel medicines and therapies to improve metabolism, eyesight, and immune response.
It’s up to Variant’s software and scientific analysis to find breakthrough genetic coding in Sherpa DNA, Castel said it could take several years to develop drugs and therapies based on the results.
Variant Bio recently received a capital infusion from venture firm Lux Capital for $16 million to pursue the research.
Josh Wolfe, the co-founder of Lux Capital, said:
“Wouldn’t it be amazing if some secrets of human health were possessed by these small groups of people [Sherpa people], and they could ultimately benefit the rest of the world?,” Wolfe said.
Variant’s new CEO, Andrew Farnum, previously managed the $2 billion investment arm of the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation that concentrated on global health and infectious diseases.
“There are huge advantages here for drug discovery,”
(snip)
(Excerpt) Read more at ussanews.com ...
Here is a National Georgraphic article about them:
Tibetans Can Thank Ancient Humans for Gene That Lets Them Live the High Life
"The physiological ability of ethnic Tibetans to thrive at miles-high elevations, unaffected by oxygen levels that leave lowlanders gasping, appears to have originated with Denisovans, a close relative of Neanderthals."
Sherpa’s also are one the very rare peoples who practice fraternal polyandry (one woman marries brothers). That helps narrow the gene pool perhaps preserving this characteristic.
yeah but it turns the family tree into a knot.
Me and my brothers and sisters are normal.
What if we don’t want Sherpa DNA, or Coronavirus vaccines? Are we bad for being thankful with our God given Viking DNA and immune system?
Welcome to Shangra-La.
IIRC my mom had two first cousin sisters, who married brothers. Alas one of the brothers murdered his sister before my time.
GGG ping
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