Human noses do not all have the same form and look. Coming in different shapes and sizes, noses can be big, tall, flat, and small, among others. Now, a new study reveals that some ancient Neanderthal genes could be responsible for the human nasal anatomy.
Genetics and Nasal Anatomy
According to Science Alert, the study covered participants of African, Native American, and European descent. This matched certain regions of the human genome to the facial structure of particular individuals. Such matches were then compared to other genome studies on humans and Neanderthals.
Overall, the researchers were able to find 26 genetic regions that had strong links to the facial shape of humans. More specifically, they observed that those with Native American roots possessed a unique ancient Neanderthal gene known as ATF3. Those with European roots, however, were found not to harbor the ATF3 gene.
Science Alert notes that though this gene is acknowledged for its role in the regeneration of nervous tissue, its expression is mediated by another gene that may impact face shape.
Mixed with proof that demonstrates the activity of ATF3 as human faces get formed, the study suggests that the presence of this gene could significantly affect the growth of one's nose. The study was reported in the Communications Biology journal.
Ancient Neanderthal Genes
Prior studies on the skulls of Neanderthals have revealed that the noses of these species were taller compared to those of modern humans. The ATF3 gene's development could be partially responsible for such changes, as other genes are known to affect the shape of the human nose too.
On top of this, scientists also think that the ATF3 gene offers a certain survival edge in particular environments. This is especially true considering how ATF3 is persistent across various generations in Latin America. For one, other studies show that the human nose shape could evolve in order to better adapt to its surrounding climate. This, then, regulates the humidity and temperature of the air inhaled.
Qing Li, a geneticist from Fudan University, suggests that ATF3, which could have been inherited from the Neanderthal lineage, could have helped humans adapt and adjust to cooler weather as earlier humans migrated from Africa. This, however, remains speculation.
MailOnline reports that, according to Dr. Kaustubh Adhikari, the study's leader, in the past 15 years, ever since the sequencing of the Neanderthal genome, scientists have been able to discover that human ancestors interbred with ancient Neanderthals. This, in turn, left humans with tidbits of Neanderthal DNA. In such a case, it is seen that tidbits of Neanderthal genes affect facial anatomy to some extent. Dr. Adhikari adds that human ancestors may have benefited from this, as thousands of generations have also received such traits.
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