Local politics, the county, and the world, as viewed by Tammy Maygra

Tammy’s views are her own, and do not necessarily reflect the views of Bill Eagle, his wife, his pastor, Tammy’s neighbors, Brady Preheim, Marty Rowe, President Elon Musk, President Trump, Joe Biden, Tim Walz, Jerry Falwell Jr., Mike Johnson, J.D. Vance, Vlad Putin, Ted Cruz, Kamala Harris, Trump’s MAGA followers, or my neighbor’s dogs. This Tammy’s Take (with the exception of this disclaimer) is not paid for or written by, or even reviewed by anyone but Tammy and she refuses to be bullied by anyone. See Bill’s Standard Disclaimer

See Standard Disclaimer

 

 

 

Skulls of Neanderthal (front) and Modern human (back).

 

Neanderthal’s Rare Blood Group

 

 

I can’t do another week of Trump or the attack on our Republic from Trump so we will focus this week on science. You know something Trump doesn’t believe in. Science and medicine funding which he has cut. But then if he gets sick he gets all the best health care in the world. Basic health is what he thinks fellow citizens should get. Or none.

When modern humans journeyed out of Africa, a rapid evolution in their red blood cells by mixing with other people may have helped them survive, but it may have also led to the eventual disappearance of Neanderthals.

Neanderthals had a rare blood group that could have been fatal to their newborns. Their study was published Thursday (Jan. 23) in the journal Scientific Reports.

Humans blood groups are characterized by proteins and sugars, called antigens , found on the surface of red blood cells. Many people are familiar with the ABO blood typing system, which lumps blood into the groups A, B, AB and O. The antigens on a person's red blood cells are recognized as safe by the immune system, but someone with type B blood will have antibodies that attack type A antigens.

Another important antigen is the Rh factor, which gives the positive and negative signs to blood types. So, nowadays, knowing which of the eight possible combinations of blood group and Rh factor a person has is key to a successful blood transfusion.

But red blood cells are even more complicated than this — there are hundreds of other, lesser-known antigens known to hang out on the surface of these cells in modern humans, as well as differences in the inside of the cells. Since these variations in red blood cells are passed down over the generations.

Neanderthals have an Rh blood group that is very rare in modern humans. The Rh variant, a type of RhD, another red blood cell antigen is not compatible with the variants  found in the Denisovans or the early Homo sapiens.

For any case of inbreeding of a Neanderthal female with a Homo sapiens or Denisova male, there is a high risk of hemolytic disease of the newborn." The condition can lead to jaundice, severe anemia, brain damage and death.This could have contributed to the demise of the Neanderthal’s.

While Neanderthals' general isolation could explain why their red blood cells did not evolve much over the years, there are still questions about why early humans' red blood cells diversified so much and so quickly over a span of at least 15,000 years.

Research into red blood cell variations fits in well with archaeological and genetic studies, showing that new genetic families and new stone tool industries arose in the Persian Plateau between 70,000 and 45,000 years ago. The lack of diversity in the red blood cells of Neanderthals and Denisovans over the same time span could indicate inbreeding and declining population numbers, eventually leading to the extinction of these people.

Thankfully for modern medicine and science we can help solve many mysteries of our makeup. Without science and medicine many people would die early deaths, or suffer for years.

It is important to keep funding for science and medicines to keep people healthy from disease, or birth defects.  It is a simple and it should be a fundamental right for every citizen in this country, they should be afforded the right and granted good healthcare. In the long run giving people healthcare is cheaper to all. A healthy nation is a strong nation.

 

Tammy

 

Home                                                   More Tammy’s Takes