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Ancient Genes Cause Modern Diseases?
20 Oct
Summary
- Ancient gene variants beneficial in Bronze Age may harm modern humans.
- Autoimmune diseases involve immune cells attacking the body's own tissues.
- Lifestyle and environmental factors can trigger these gene-related illnesses.
Evolutionary remnants of our genes, once vital for survival, may now be contributing to modern autoimmune diseases. These conditions, affecting millions globally, manifest when the immune system erroneously targets the body's own healthy tissues. Examples include multiple sclerosis, rheumatoid arthritis, and Type 1 diabetes.
Scientists are exploring the concept of antagonistic pleiotropy, where genes exhibit beneficial effects in one context and harmful ones in another. Evidence points to natural selection favoring certain gene variants during the Bronze Age, approximately 5,000 years ago. These same variants may increase autoimmune disease risk today.
These ancient gene variants might have conferred advantages during periods of transition to farming and pastoralism. These lifestyles increased exposure to infectious diseases carried by plants and domesticated animals, a stark contrast to hunter-gatherer societies. Modern environmental factors like diet and pollutants are also thought to play a role in triggering these conditions in individuals with specific genetic predispositions.
