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DNA study offers clues to contact between modern humans and neanderthals

DNA study offers clues to contact between modern humans and neanderthals

Sarah Tishkoff from the Perelman School of Medicine and School of Arts & Sciences found that Neanderthals carried an unusually high amount of modern human DNA on their X chromosomes—suggesting frequent mating between Neanderthal men and modern human women, rather than genetic incompatibility, as previously believed.

How ancient attraction shaped the human genome
Human X chromosomes, karyotype, structure, division in genetic biological study

Why do modern humans carry small amounts of Neanderthal DNA almost everywhere in their genome except on the X chromosome? A new study by Alexander Platt and Daniel Harris in the lab of geneticist Sarah Tishkoff suggests the answer lies in ancient attraction. (Pictured) An illustration of a normal karyotype, the full complement of chromosomes arranged in homologous pairs.

(Image: quantic69 via Getty Images)

How ancient attraction shaped the human genome

Research led by geneticist Sarah Tishkoff’s finds that prehistoric mating preferences is a likely explanation for why modern humans have small amounts of Neanderthal genetic elements on their X chromosomes, challenging the idea that human evolution was driven solely by survival of the fittest.

3 min. read

Could ‘cyborg’ transplants replace pancreatic tissue damaged by diabetes?
Microscopic view of pancreas tissue.

The researchers grew pancreatic tissue (above) so it incorporated a mesh-like electronic network (red). Cells within the tissue produce insulin (green), the blood-sugar-lowering hormone lost in type 1 diabetes.

(Image: Courtesy of Penn Medicine)

Could ‘cyborg’ transplants replace pancreatic tissue damaged by diabetes?

A new electronic implant system developed by Penn Medicine researchers prompts lab-grown pancreatic cells to mature, and suggests a new way to treat diabetes.

Matt Toal

2 min. read

How to incentivize problem solving in groups
Artist rendering of several people conected with string stretch their connections to the limit, testing the strength of unity.

Image: Flavio Coelho via Getty Images

How to incentivize problem solving in groups

Why do some groups get smarter together while others collapse into groupthink? New research from theoretical biologist Joshua Plotkin and collaborators show that collective intelligence doesn’t emerge by rewarding the most accurate individuals but by rewarding those who improve the group’s prediction as a whole.

3 min. read