Like every year Nobel Prize in Medicine This was announced first. If last year was dedicated to the discovery of some sensory receptors, then this year Svante Paabo “for their discoveries about the genomes of extinct hominins and human evolution.”

The election came as part of a surprise, as all pools this year pointed to three parents of the mRNA coronavirus vaccine. However, Paabo’s choice has also been well received, as his research is undeniably deserving of the award.

And the fact is that this scientist and his team made two great scientific milestones: the sequencing of the Neanderthal genome and, in addition, the discovery of the Denisovan hominid, which helped to fit some fragments of our history. Therefore, there is no doubt that he clearly deserves 10 million SEK (€985,700) what is the prize.

Announcement of the Nobel Prize in Medicine

Nobel Prize in Medicine Announced at 11:30 CETfrom Karolinska Institutein the city of Solna, near Stockholm.

Thomas Perlmansecretary of the Nobel Assembly, responsible for the dissemination of information, first in Swedish and then in English.

Why is this discovery so important?

Thanks to Paabo’s research, today we know much more about the transfer of genes from our ancestors to Homo sapiens. And this is very important, as it helps us to better understand some of the diseases we suffer Today.

Today we know that some of the genes that regulate how our immune system responds to infections are inherited from Neanderthals. We also know that they may have inherited diseases such as arthritis or schizophrenia. Although we also owe them some of the genes associated with eye or skin color.

If we all know this, then thanks to paleogenomicsdiscipline developed by Paabo himself when he started working on University of Munich.

Difficult task deserving of the Nobel Prize in Medicine

We already know why a researcher in anthropology deserves the Nobel Prize in Medicine. But it’s not just the usefulness of their research for a better understanding of some human health problems. Also because what Svante Paabo did it’s not easy at all.

Sequencing the human genome has already been a challenge in itself. However, in the case of Neanderthals, the feat is further complicated by the fact that how degraded your DNA. After tens of thousands of years, the genetic material degrades and only traces remain, which are also heavily contaminated.

Paabo tried for decades to find a solution and finally found it in mitochondrial DNA. Mitochondria are organelles that perform the functions engine cells. They have their own genetic material, which is mostly passed down from mother to child and contains only a fraction of the cell’s genetic material. But it also has a great advantage, as there are thousands of copies. Therefore, the probability of success in the analysis of this DNA was much higher. This allowed him to analyze the genome of an extinct hominid for the first time and, with its help, begin a long investigation that still continues to bring news of great importance to humanity.

Looks like we’ll have to wait until parents get their coronavirus shots. Nobel Prize in Medicine. However, there is no doubt that this Swedish biologist deserves it.

Source: Hiper Textual

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