In extremely exciting news this week, mitochondrial DNA analysis has revealed that the Tyrolean mummy, known as Otzi, has a different phylogenetic structure than that of contemporary Human populations! Mito-what? Phylo-huh? And who the hell is Ozti!!!
Okay, I’ll go back a step.
Tyrolean Mummy = Otzi the Iceman, a mummy found in the Alps on the Austrian-Italian border, dated to the Neolithic period. Interestingly, Otzi was found to have a number of Tattoos, an arrow in his back and cranial trauma, clearly not a popular man before his death. I know right! How totally punk rock was Otzi!
Anyway...
Bored in a lab one day:
Frank: Hey Bob…
Bob: Yes, Frank?
Frank: In a fight between the Pope and the Dalai Lama, who do you think would win?
Bob: Frank, have you been watching Fight Club again?!
Frank: I’m Bored!
Bob: Why don't you do some work then?
Frank: Gah! Fine…
Bored in a lab one day:
Frank: Hey Bob…
Bob: Yes, Frank?
Frank: In a fight between the Pope and the Dalai Lama, who do you think would win?
Bob: Frank, have you been watching Fight Club again?!
Frank: I’m Bored!
Bob: Why don't you do some work then?
Frank: Gah! Fine…
(a few minutes later)
Frank: Hey Bob…
Bob: Yes Frank?
Frank: Say you were going to die, what would be your last meal?
Bob: Jeez Frank! Morbid much?!
Frank: Sorry, but I was just looking at the “O-Dawg” and I was wondering what his last meal was…
Bob: Hey! I know! Let’s examine his stomach contents and re-create the meal!!
Frank: Great idea!
The Frank and Bob scenario did actually occur and the scientists involved found that:
a) Ozti ingested a number of things before he died including meat, roots, grains and fruit.
b) It tasted disgusting!
Bored in the lab on another day:
Bob: You look a bit like him you know.
Frank: Huh? Look like who? Brad Pitt? Edward Norton?
Bob: No Frank! I'm not talking Fight Club.
Frank: Oh, sorry.
Bob: You look a bit like our friend here...
Frank: the "O-dawg"? Really?
Bob: Yeah, you’ve certainly got his nose.
Frank: Hey! Here’s a wacky idea!
Bob: Well you are well aware of my fondness for wacky ideas Frank, do continue!
Frank: Let’s extract some DNA and map his phylogenetic heritage!
Bob: What a brilliant Idea Frank!
Frank: the "O-dawg"? Really?
Bob: Yeah, you’ve certainly got his nose.
Frank: Hey! Here’s a wacky idea!
Bob: Well you are well aware of my fondness for wacky ideas Frank, do continue!
Frank: Let’s extract some DNA and map his phylogenetic heritage!
Bob: What a brilliant Idea Frank!
And Bob was right; it was a brilliant idea, Frank.
Okay, let's talk science:
DNA = Deoxyribonucleic acid
DNA = the building blocks of life. Essentially, DNA is like an instruction manual for the development and function of all forms of life – from us humans to viruses.
To keep it simple, there are a few different types of DNA, the ones relevant to this story are:
Nuclear DNA = found in the nucleus of a cell, if you’re a CSI fan, this is the DNA they always jabber on about. This type of DNA does not however preserve very well in the archaeological record.
Mitochondrial DNA = (mtDNA) found in the mitochondria of a cell and is passed down from mother to child in a matrilineal relationship. This type of DNA is more commonly preserved in the archaeological record.
Mitochondrial DNA = (mtDNA) found in the mitochondria of a cell and is passed down from mother to child in a matrilineal relationship. This type of DNA is more commonly preserved in the archaeological record.
mtDNA is therefore used to map genetic links between populations of the past and also present. Essentially, the mapping of mtDNA has shown that modern populations have all evolved from a few different genetic branches, all of which are believed to have been passed down from a single apical ancestor – referred to by scientists as ‘Eve’ or 'mitochondrial Eve'.
A book written by Bryan Sykes entitled “The Seven daughters of Eve” details the theories and principles of human evolution and genetic inheritance. It also traces the genetic inheritance of modern human populations to seven genetically different groups. It’s a pretty good read actually.
Anyway, the DNA mapping of Otzi the Iceman found that he belonged to Group K, who shared the apical ancestor tentatively dubbed “Katrina”. However, each group has several sub-groups.
What was interesting about this case is that Otzi does not belong to any of the previously documented sub-groups of the K-group!!
He’s a totally new genetic sub-group!!!!
I know some of you are sitting there saying “Maybe he was just retarded”, but leading scientists studying Otzi suggest that he represents a now extremely rare if not extinct genetic group.
Is that not the single, most fantastical-cool thing you’ve heard this week?!
Anyone?
No?
Okay, clearly just me then.
Well screw you guys!! I’m still going to have my “Ozti has no friends” party!
http://www.archaeology.org/news/
http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/127631.php
http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20081030/sc_nm/us_iceman_children;_ylt=AhfN5sqzdi8yU9DBgx7D8kwhANEA
http://img.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix/2007/06_01/otzi_468x368..jpg
http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/127631.php
http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20081030/sc_nm/us_iceman_children;_ylt=AhfN5sqzdi8yU9DBgx7D8kwhANEA
http://img.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix/2007/06_01/otzi_468x368..jpg
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