ニワトリはティラノサウルスの直系の子孫です。そしてそれは科学によって証明されています！
Sometimes DNA makes mistakes and within these
mistakes lies something astonishing. In this chapter, we delve into a case where a genetic
malfunction turns into a phenomenon granting a person abilities we once considered fantastical.
One real example is congenital insensitivity to pain. Some people do not feel pain even
when suffering serious injuries. This isn’t a superhero fantasy. It’s a rare mutation
in the SCN9A gene which is responsible for the functioning sensory channels in nerve
endings. When this channel doesn’t work, a person simply doesn’t feel pain. Just imagine a
snake bite, a burn, and the body doesn’t react to this signal. Another example is the remarkable
regeneration seen in certain individuals. Scientists have documented cases where damaged
tissues healed faster than usual almost without scarring. This may be related to mutations in the
signaling pathways of cell growth and division, but the mechanism is still not fully understood.
There are also mutations that improve vision, bone density, and joint flexibility. All of this
has been found in a very small number of people. Some of these mutations do not harm the body at
all, but instead provide a side bonus. Scientists call such cases genetic outliers. But it’s
important to remember that such super abilities always come with risks. Disruption of immune
system functions, increased strain on organs, even a tendency toward tumors. Nature rarely
gives a gift without a price. And yet, it is precisely through such mutations that we gain a
window into how flexible and adaptable our DNA is. In this chapter, we will learn about people
who are essentially immune to viruses. Their immunity is genetically protected and these
are real documented cases. The most well-known example is the CCR5 delta 32 mutation. This
gene variant renders one of the CCR5 receptor proteins non-functional. Many strains of
the human immuno deficiency virus HIV use this very receptor to enter immune cells. If the
receptor is broken, the virus simply can’t get in. People who inherit two copies of this mutation,
homozygot, are highly resistant to infection. There is a well-known case of Steven Cone, a man
who was called the one whom the virus couldn’t touch. Despite having contact with infected
partners, he did not become infected. He had exactly this mutation. In addition, there have
been cases of bone marrow transplantation. The donor had two copies of CCR5 delta 32 and
after the transplant, the recipient became virtually immune to HIV. This is a rare path to
infection remission. Interestingly, researchers have traced the origin of this mutation back to
ancient times. Its traces are found in people who lived thousands of years ago. This has led
to hypotheses that it was selected for due to a medieval epidemic. But genetic immunity is not
a universal shield. Some strains of the virus bypass CCR5. It acts through other receptors and
the mutation can have side effects. For example, it can weaken protection against other viruses.
So, this immunity is not an absolute guarantee. Moving forward, we encounter a paradox. The
same mutation that gives an advantage in some conditions becomes fatal in others. This is the
curse of DNA. Let’s take that same CCR 5 delta 32. Although it helps resist HIV, it can weaken
protection against other viruses such as Westnile virus or encphilitis viruses. In some studies,
carriers of the mutation showed an increased risk of complications after being infected with
viruses that use other pathways. Another example is the cickle cell gene which causes cickle cell
blood disorder. People who inherit one copy of the mutation are resistant to malaria which is
a huge advantage in regions where the disease is widespread. But with two copies, a severe blood
disorder develops. Cickle cell anemia which comes with painful crises and life-threatening risks.
This dual nature is called an antagonistic effect. beneficial in one context, harmful in another. So,
the curse of DNA is not a myth, but a reality. A gene that we might consider a friend can turn
into an enemy when conditions change. This explains why nature doesn’t allow everyone to
have super genes. The price is simply too high. In this chapter, we will explore how scientists
discovered traces of DNA from unknown ancestors. Ancestors who left no fossils, but who live on
inside us. When researchers sequenced the DNA of homminid species, they found fragments that
matched neither homo sapiens nor Neanderthalss nor Denisven. This points to the existence
of other ancient humans whom we have not yet discovered. For example, in the genetics of
some Papuan peoples and residents of Asia, there are fragments that are not related to any
known branches. Scientists call this dark DNA, genes of light that we cannot see. These DNA
instructions suggest that there may have been more ancestors than we know of. Some species may have
disappeared without leaving fossil evidence, but left their trace inside our chromosomes. Sometimes
the time of divergence can be determined. Millions of years ago, lineages split and mutations
accumulated. These chromosomal traces affect us. Immunity, growth, even susceptibility to diseases
may echo ancient alliances within our genes. Thus, the shadow of an unknown ancestor is not a
mystery, but a silhouette revealed in the code of each of us. We do not know what those people
looked like, but they live on through our cells. This chapter is about how ancient species
seemingly extinct still live within us. Through genetic mixing, when Homo sapiens
left Africa, they encountered other hominins, Neanderthalss and Denisovvens. But instead
of total conflict, interbreeding occurred. Fragments of Neanderthal and Denisovven DNA
made their way into the genome of modern humans. For example, some Europeans have up to 2 to 3%
Neanderthal DNA, while people from Oceania have a significant proportion of Denisovven DNA.
These fragments affect immunity, skin growth, and even adaptation to high altitudes. Numerous
studies have found that segments of Neanderthal DNA are associated with immune system functions,
antibodies, and inflammatory responses. Often, this provides additional protection against
pathogens, and adaptation to the environment. But such foreign genes are not always safe. They
are linked to an increased risk of allergies, autoimmune diseases, and a tendency toward
depression. Sometimes there is a conflict between the ancient part and the modern
one. These ancient intermixings are not a myth. They are a proven reality confirmed
by the analysis of hundreds of thousands of genomes. We are hybrids, carriers of
genetic heritage from many branches. In evolution, we have lost a lot and some
of these losses are hidden within our DNA. This chapter is about genes that our ancestors had
but that disappeared in modern humans as if cut out from our code history. Scientists by comparing
the genomes of humans and their relatives, animals and ancient hominins have found cases of
DNA segments that exist in apes or Neanderthalss but are absent in homo sapiens. These are vanished
genes. Why did they disappear? According to one hypothesis, because of selection, mutations and
harmful effects. For example, the MIH16 gene, which is involved in jaw muscle function, is
active in apes, but is no longer functional in humans. It is believed that the disappearance
of this gene may have led to a reduction in chewing muscles and an expansion of the cranial
vault. Another example is the genes responsible for the sense of smell. Our ancestors had more
alactory receptors than we do now. Many of them mutated and stopped working, possibly due to
a decreased reliance on smells in a changing environment. Interestingly, these vanished
segments weren’t necessarily the best ones. their disappearance could have been a beneficial
adaptive step. Sometimes the loss of a gene also eliminates unwanted side effects. So we see that
evolution is not only about adding something new but also about ruthlessly removing the
old. Gene loss is a mechanism as well. This chapter explains how DNA destroys the idea of
a pure race and reveals the real migrations of our ancestors. Analysis of the genomes of ancient
remains and modern populations has revealed countless layers of migration. People did not
stay in one place. They crossed continents, mixed, disappeared, and gave rise to new cultures. For
example, the DNA of Europeans contains components from hunter gatherers, farmers from the Middle
East, and nomads from the Eurasian steps. All these waves of migration have mixed within us.
Africa has one of the most complex genetic maps, but that’s because humanity originated there.
Many modern peoples are a mix of ancient lineages, migrations, and isolation. When people
talk about pure blood, genetics respond, “There is no such blood. Even in isolated tribes,
traces of foreign DNA can be found.” This section helps the viewer understand that races are not
rigid boundaries, but fluid waves of history. Among tribes that have lived in isolation
for centuries, in jungles, mountains, and on islands, scientists find amazing genetic
traits that exist nowhere else. For example, Tibetans have adapted to high altitudes. They
have genes that allow them to tolerate thin air more easily. This is not just a matter of
survival. These are changes at the DNA level. People living in the Amazon, far from the outside
world, sometimes have versions of genes that help them fight parasites or adapt to a diet based
on local plants. In Papa New Guinea, genes have been found that are almost absent in the rest of
humanity. These are locally originated variations, the result of thousands of years of isolation.
These unique segments can tell us a lot. They show how environmental conditions shape
DNA, how mutations become fixed in a population, and how lost genes were once useful.
The secret of such peoples is that their genetics are a living archive of evolution,
indisputable yet almost completely unexplored. A person suffers from a terrible disease, but
scientists cannot find a single mutation in the coding part of the DNA that could explain it.
In such cases, DNA remains silent. Such diseases are often called genetic but of unclear origin.
Standard sequencers do not detect modifications in exxons, the coding regions. Perhaps the problem
lies in the non-exonic regions in regulatory elementas inrons, areas that control gene
activation. Epigenetic marks also play a role. DNA methylation, histone modification, and other
overlays on the code that signal to turn a gene on or off. They don’t change the letters of the
DNA, but they do change whether it is read or not. Finally, there are complex cases involving
fractional cell divisions. Mosaicism. When a mutation is present in only some cells, not
all. If there are few such cells, standard analysis may not detect it. Science acknowledges
that the silence of DNA is not emptiness. It is a challenge, a task to communicate with the code
through subtle mechanisms to find what is hidden. Sometimes a mutation that was once
alive and active disappears to the point that it becomes almost a myth,
but scientists still find them. Not very rarely. We’re talking about mutations that
are almost never found in the population, forgotten ones. Maybe they were eliminated by
selection or maybe they’re just rare by nature. Sometimes they exist in just one family or one
people. One example is the rarest gene variants that provide resistance to specific poisonous
plants that were consumed in ancient times. Today they are practically gone since such plants
are no longer used and the protection is no longer needed. Another case is mutations that make
the organism less susceptible to radiation or toxins. But they are too rare or cause
side effects and have died out in average populations. Sometimes fleeting mutations
are found but they appear in one generation, last for one or two generations and then
disappear. It’s like a spark in space. Forgotten mutations are evidence of evolutionary drama.
Melodies that were played and then faded away. When a person takes a genetic test, they expect
to see confirmation of their family legend. But more and more often, such tests reveal unexpected
facts, switched identities, secrets of paternity, foreign roots. Many users of popular DNA services
have discovered relatives they never knew about. There have been cases when the test showed a
match with brothers and sisters even though the person believed they were an only child
or it suddenly turned out that the biological father was not the one who raised them at all.
Sometimes a DNA test reveals an ethnic origin that doesn’t match the family stories. A
person might have considered themselves, for example, purely of British descent, but
it turns out their ancestors came from the Caucasus or North Africa. In some cases, serious
mistakes in medical institutions were uncovered, such as babies being switched
at birth in the maternity ward, or cases of artificial insemination where the
donor turned out not to be the chosen candidate, but the doctor himself. These discoveries can
shatter one’s identity, but they can also open your eyes to the true story. The genetic map is
honest. It doesn’t take feelings into account. In the 21st century, scientists got their hands
on a tool for editing DNA, CrisperCast 9. It allows you to cut, insert, and change sections
of the genome. And there have already been real attempts to apply this to humans. The most famous
case is a Chinese scientist who claimed to have altered the CCR5 gene in embryos to make them
resistant to HIV. The children were born. The scandal was enormous. The scientist was convicted,
but the fact remains this was the first attempt to alter human DNA from the very beginning. In
addition, crisper is used to treat diseases such as cickle cell anemia, certain types of
cancer, and rare genetic syndromes. There are already successful clinical cases where symptoms
disappeared after intervention. However, there is a risk. The method can accidentally damage
other parts of the DNA, cause cancer, or alter things that were not intended. For now, science
is proceeding cautiously, and research continues. But widespread use is under strict control. DNA
editing raises the question, where is the line between treatment and enhancement? Between science
and designer babies, there is no answer yet. Despite thousands of decoded genomes, super
powerful computers, and advanced technologies, there is one thing that science
still does not fully understand. It is how from a set of chemical
letters, consciousness, character, and thinking are born. Our DNA code is known. We
know where the genes for growth, pigmentation, and immunity are located. But how is personality
formed at the molecular level? Why can twins with identical genes have different
destinies, different behaviors, and different susceptibilities to diseases? The
answer lies partly in epigenetics, a complex system of switches that influence gene activity.
But even this does not explain everything. The level of interaction between genes, environment,
and chance is so high that an accurate prediction is almost impossible. Scientists call this the
dark matter of the genome. unstudied regions, signaling networks, unknown mechanisms. Even
in the simplest organisms, it is not always clear how a particular gene is activated. This
gives rise to the main mystery. DNA is like a book we’ve read but haven’t fully understood. It
speaks, but we still haven’t learned its language.
Immerse yourself in the fascinating world of genetics, where each gene holds its own story. In this video, we explore rare mutations that grant people unique abilities and how the ancient genes of our ancestors still live within us. Learn about genetic immunity, the mysteries of DNA, and how modern technologies allow us to edit genomes. This video will answer many questions and open new horizons in understanding our genetic heritage. Subscribe to not miss exciting discoveries in the world of genetics!
00:00 Mysteries of DNA
01:24 Genetic Immunity
02:49 The Curse of DNA
04:00 Shadow of an Unknown Ancestor
05:12 People with Foreign DNA
06:22 Vanished Genes
07:39 Genetics of Race and Migration
08:34 Genetics from the Depths
09:32 When DNA is Silent
10:34 Forgotten Mutations
11:33 Map of Deception
12:38 On the Edge of Editing
13:41 The Greatest Mystery