[PatrickHenry]

Everyone be nice.

[RadioAstronomer]

bttt for later read. :-)

[PatrickHenry]

EvolutionPing

A pro-evolution science list with over 250 names. See list's description at my homepage. FReepmail to be added/dropped.

[snarks_when_bored]

Interesting.

[theFIRMbss]

>An international team, led by researchers at the Department of Human Evolution, Max Planck Institute for Evolutionary Anthropology, in Leipzig, Germany, have extracted and sequenced protein from a Neanderthal from Shanidar Cave, Iraq . . .

So, let me see if I understand the thrust here: Germany will now clone a vast army of prehistoric Muslims to conquer the world?

[DannyTN]

"Therefore, the ability to form proteins without the presence of vitamin C may have been an advantage to these primates if this nutrient was missing from the diets regularly, or from time to time. "

"If" true, then once again we see "devolution" in progress. An ancient ability was to form proteins was loss.

And once again, this is going in the OPPOSITE direction of evolution.

[AdmSmith]

Here is the interesting PNAS article

http://www.pnas.org/cgi/content/abstract/0500450102v1

We report here protein sequences of fossil hominids, from two Neanderthals dating to 75,000 years old from Shanidar Cave in Iraq. These sequences, the oldest reported fossil primate protein sequences, are of bone osteocalcin, which was extracted and sequenced by using MALDI-TOF/TOF mass spectrometry. Through a combination of direct sequencing and peptide mass mapping, we determined that Neanderthals have an osteocalcin amino acid sequence that is identical to that of modern humans.

We also report complete osteocalcin sequences for chimpanzee (Pan troglodytes) and gorilla (Gorilla gorilla gorilla) and a partial sequence for orangutan (Pongo pygmaeus), all of which are previously unreported. We found that the osteocalcin sequences of Neanderthals, modern human, chimpanzee, and orangutan are unusual among mammals in that the ninth amino acid is proline (Pro-9), whereas most species have hydroxyproline (Hyp-9). Posttranslational hydroxylation of Pro-9 in osteocalcin by prolyl-4-hydroxylase requires adequate concentrations of vitamin C (L-ascorbic acid), molecular O2, Fe2+, and 2-oxoglutarate, and also depends on enzyme recognition of the target proline substrate consensus sequence Leu-Gly-Ala-Pro-9-Ala-Pro-Tyr occurring in most mammals. In five species with Pro-9-Val-10, hydroxylation is blocked, whereas in gorilla there is a mixture of Pro-9 and Hyp-9. We suggest that the absence of hydroxylation of Pro-9 in Pan, Pongo, and Homo may reflect response to a selective pressure related to a decline in vitamin C in the diet during omnivorous dietary adaptation, either independently or through the common ancestor of these species.

[clearsight]

"The team found that the Neanderthal sequence was the same as modern humans."
Even the same to 75,000 years ago ??? So what else wouldn't we (the ignorant masses of unwashed humanity) have already guessed??? Interestingly, the general concensus (prior to Darwin's theory) as to the age of the earth was around 6,000 years based primarily on average population growth of societies and the number of generation from Adam. Not exactly brain surgery or quantum physics, but what would a bunch of ignorant 1800's/1900's unwashed bible reading bumkins know anyway.....

[pabianice]

Strangely enough, Chicago voting records indicate that the 75,000 year old Neanderthal voted for Kerry in 2004 and Gore in 2000...

[VadeRetro]

Interesting that this protein is the same in neanderthals and humans. The mtDNA evidence is flawed IMHO because of its matrilineal nature. I hope we can eventually sequence more proteins and/or get some nuclear DNA someday for a clearer answer to whether Neanderthals interbred with moderns and thus still survive in our gene pool.

[FastCoyote]

Just WOW! Thanks for this article. This opens up whole new ways to map our ancestory and migrations. I'm just flumoxed.

[katana]

PETA's gonna be pissed. Our closest relatives and we are all chemically constructed for an omnivorous (including tasty critters) diet.

[mountainlyons]

I saw an article some time ago that compared human DNS to the Neanderthal and found there was no possibility of any relationship. Neanderthal was a beast related to no other creature on earth. Some say we have 98% of the genes of a chimpanzee bur they have not sequenced a chimp so that is a guess. I like the one that we have 70% of the DNA of a carrot!

[righttackle44]

Did that neanderthal have a press card?

[facedown]

This sequence difference is at position nine, where the crystalline amino acid hydroxyproline is replaced by proline (an amino acid that is found in many proteins).

Interesting because hydroxyproline is seldom found in proteins other than collagen. In that osteocalcin is a bone protein, and bone and connective tissue are intimately interconnected, I wonder if there are any sequence homologies.

[aruanan]

This is the oldest fossil protein ever sequenced. Protein sequences may be used in a similar way to DNA, to provide information on the genetic relationships between extinct and living species.

But not the oldest protein available since there is scorpionid chiton with the original color patterns intact that is millions of years old.

[SwankyC]

The team found that the Neanderthal sequence was the same as modern humans. In addition, the team found a marked difference in the sequences of Neanderthals, human, chimpanzee and orangutan from that of gorillas, and most other mammals.

Arent Neanderthals supposed to be direct descendants of the monkeys?

[Betis70]

Very interesting. must read later ...

[SunkenCiv]

I just sequenced my DNA (euphemism) and I'm beat. Time for bed.

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