Scientists discovered genetic switches that caused differences between humans and neanderthals - Polidicks

[QUOTE] Israeli scientists made a major breakthrough as they discovered genetic switches that caused differences between extinct neanderthals and modern humans. Israeli scientist published the research in an online edition of the prestigious journal and said “Science may explain what separates modern man, or Homo sapiens, from Neanderthals”. Human and their extinct Neanderthal cousins different in mind and body were found to be 99.84 similar genetically. Four years after scientists discovered that the two species’s genomes differ by a fraction of a percent, geneticists said on Thursday they have an explanation: the cellular equivalent of “on/off” switches that determine whether DNA is activated or not. Many genetic switches are turned on in humans that are switched off in neanderthals and vice-versa, study revealed. “People are fundamentally interested in what makes us human, in what makes us different from Neanderthals,”said Sarah Tishkoff, an expert in human evolution at the University of Pennsylvania, who was not involved in the new study. Discovering the differences in gene activation is “an amazing technical feat,” she said. [/QUOTE] [url]http://www.thewestsidestory.net/2014/04/20/scientists-discovered-genetic-switches-caused-differences-humans-neanderthals/[/url]

Can we flip those switches?

[QUOTE=Riller;44603155]Can we flip those switches?[/QUOTE] We already have 1 of u

Can we turn off all the switches that makes human a human and just those ones without turning on any other ones? or turn on all the neanderthal ones? What would we get in these cases?

but we've known about this for ages?

Where's the switch that lets us turn into animals?

If homo sapiens sapiens did breed with neanderthals, wouldn't that technically make them human too?

[QUOTE=slayer20;44603304]Where's the switch that lets us turn into animals?[/QUOTE] It's there, but in order to turn it in you need to listen to Martin Garrix for 4 hours straight.

[QUOTE=slayer20;44603304]Where's the switch that lets us turn into animals?[/QUOTE] er, human beings/you are animals. So... all of them?

But we've known about switches for awhile now? I learned about them in my biology class ages ago.

[QUOTE=Wayword;44603161]We already have 1 of u[/QUOTE] I don't get this.

[QUOTE=lifehole;44603434]er, human beings/you are animals. So... all of them?[/QUOTE] I meant something other than human beings :v:

The switches aren't what's so revolutionary about this discovery, it's the fact that the difference between Neanderthals and Homo-sapiens is in the switches.

Just a FYI, the article is a butched version of [url=http://www.israelhayom.com/site/newsletter_article.php?id=16953]Israeli scientists make genetic code breakthrough[/url] on "Israel Hayom" [quote]Breakthrough Israeli research published in the online edition of the prestigious journal "Science" may explain what separates modern man, or Homo sapiens, from Neanderthals. How can creatures as different in body and mind as present-day humans and their extinct Neanderthal cousins be 99.84 percent identical genetically? Four years after scientists discovered that the two species' genomes differ by a fraction of a percent, geneticists said on Thursday they have an explanation: the cellular equivalent of "on/off" switches that determine whether DNA is activated or not.[/quote] Which is also kinda sensationalist and referencing [url=http://www.sciencemag.org/content/early/2014/04/16/science.1250368]Reconstructing the DNA Methylation Maps of the Neandertal and the Denisovan[/url] [quote]Ancient DNA sequencing has recently provided high-coverage archaic human genomes. However, the evolution of epigenetic regulation along the human lineage remains largely unexplored. We reconstructed the full DNA methylation maps of the Neandertal and the Denisovan by harnessing the natural degradation processes of methylated and unmethylated cytosines. Comparing these ancient methylation maps to those of present-day humans, we identified ~2000 differentially methylated regions (DMRs). Particularly, we found substantial methylation changes in the HOXD cluster that may explain anatomical differences between archaic and present-day humans. Additionally, we found that DMRs are significantly more likely to be associated with diseases. This study provides insight into the epigenetic landscape of our closest evolutionary relatives and opens a window to explore the epigenomes of extinct species.[/quote]

[QUOTE=JgcxCub;44603644]I don't get this.[/QUOTE] Looks like you're already switched on, then.

[QUOTE=Silikone;44603323]If homo sapiens sapiens did breed with neanderthals, wouldn't that technically make them human too?[/QUOTE] They're not Homo sapiens if that answers your question. They're of the same genus, being Homo neanderthalensis

[QUOTE=Riller;44603675]Looks like you're already switched on, then.[/QUOTE] deep down we are all switched on

Considering the Neanderthals allegedly possessed greater strength than homo sapiens, I imagine one of the sought-after flipswitches would be the one(s?) that made them so strong.

[QUOTE=DeEz;44603697]deep down we are all switched on[/QUOTE] I'm kinda switched on by this conversation.

I'm totally switched on.

[QUOTE=WaRRioRTF;44603175]Can we turn off all the switches that makes human a human and just those ones without turning on any other ones? or turn on all the neanderthal ones? What would we get in these cases?[/QUOTE] i think thats a modern take on the forbiden experiment, and we probably should never do that

[QUOTE=Sableye;44606481]i think thats a modern take on the forbiden experiment, and we probably should never do that[/QUOTE] I think that's an interesting question. If I'm not mistaken, by "forbidden experiment" you mean language deprivation/other things that involve child neglect, right? The difference seems to me to be that in that case you'd take a normal person and harm them vs not doing the experiment, while in this case it would be about creating life that would otherwise not exist at all. I don't think there would necessarily be any fundamental issue if good care was given, but I could see societal ones happening since I'm pretty sure quite a lot of people wouldn't react favourably regardless of the true circumstances.

[QUOTE=JgcxCub;44603644]I don't get this.[/QUOTE] Oh, make that two

[QUOTE=Wayword;44603161]We already have 1 of u[/QUOTE] brutal

[QUOTE=Durrsly;44605087]I'm kinda switched on by this conversation.[/QUOTE] implications unpleasant

What i imagine this to be by the sounds of it, is a huge switchboard with certain aspects like "Does have molars?" Yes. "Does have tail?" No, etc. Then at the end of it all comes an animal, in this case a human, of course nature makes errors and might forget a few switches and we have 'certain' people like the sanity of Putin was clearly not setup correctly

[QUOTE=JgcxCub;44603644]I don't get this.[/QUOTE] it's an insult that works but makes no sense. I think the universe is gonna turn inside out right about now..

[QUOTE=slayer20;44603304]Where's the switch that lets us turn into animals?[/QUOTE] Who needs to turn into animals when we can turn into clean burning, efficient propane? [img]http://d2tq98mqfjyz2l.cloudfront.net/image_cache/1357168506803055.jpg[/img] Fucking water mark.

It's glad that we know switch off durh druh waht going on wha switch on feels good to be alive :)

Weren't Neanderthals rather intelligent?