Early human migration alters immune-related genes

, Oct. 31 (Xinhua) -- Early human migration on the African continent has changed DNA and protected Africans from diseases and viruses, according to a new study by South African biologists. The study analyzed the entire genome of 426 people from 13 African countries whose ancestors represented 50 ethnic linguistic groups from across the continent. The findings are published in the latest issue of the journal Nature.
study was led by Professor Lombard of the Department of Human Genetics at the Sidney Brenner Institute for Molecular Biosciences, School of Health Sciences, Golden Mountain University, South Africa, and included researchers from 24 institutions in Africa. The researchers found 62 previously unrealized genes associated with viral immunity, DNA repair, and metabolism in the Bantu-speaking population.
years ago, humans began to move from Chad and Nigeria in West Africa to East, Central and Southern Africa, according to Mr. Lombard. Analysis shows that most of the human migration movement passes through Zambia, based on the genetic characteristics of different populations currently living in these countries. Heavy rain forests separate West Africa from southern Africa, where migration is not always clear, and genetic data show similarities between different groups currently living in West Africa and Zambia.
researchers found more than 100 naturally selected genomic regions, a large proportion of which are linked to immune-related genes that may help Africans fight disease. Dr Seguta, who was involved in the study, said genes linked to resistance to insect-borne diseases such as malaria and sleeping sickness have long been actively sought, but our research shows that viral infections can affect an individual's susceptible to disease by changing the frequency of genes to help alter genomic differences between people and groups.
researchers say more research is still needed on genomes, which can now be determined to be associated with genes that affect our metabolic food, but it is not yet possible to link them to specific diseases.