MC1R Allele Suggests Varying Pigmentation Among Neanderthals
A Melanocortin 1 Receptor Allele Suggests Varying Pigmentation Among Neanderthals
2007
Abstract
The melanocortin 1 receptor (MC1R) regulates pigmentation in humans and other vertebrates. Variants of MC1R with reduced function are associated with pale skin color and red hair in humans of primarily European origin. We amplified and sequenced a fragment of the MC1R gene (mc1r) from two Neanderthal remains. Both specimens have a mutation that was not found in ?3700 modern humans analyzed. Functional analyses show that this variant reduces MC1R activity to a level that alters hair and/or skin pigmentation in humans. The impaired activity of this variant suggests that Neanderthals varied in pigmentation levels, potentially on the scale observed in modern humans. Our data suggest that inactive MC1R variants evolved independently in both modern humans and Neanderthals.
I think that the survival of the fittest is apt for this scenario. Neanderthals have this certain mutation in their MC1R gene and they did not survive. They were not able to adjust to the environment hence, they became extinct. Whereas, humans have also different MC1R variations which enabled them to survive longer than the Neanderthals, at least until this era. We never really know when an event can happen that can completely wipe us out, but at least for now, we have survived thanks to our genes.
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