Neanderthal genes and Covid-19

[hdw]

Having Neanderthal genes could increase your chances of becoming seriously ill with Covid-19.

https://www.theguardian.com/science/2020/sep/30/neanderthal-genes-increase-risk-of-serious-covid-19-study-claims

Harry

[Redroger]

Perhaps that is why they died out? Possibly CV19 is not new, just prehistoric?

[Gadget]

I read that yesterday and looked up my DNA results. 

23andme  finds  that I have approx 2% neanderthal DNA. Apparently this might be quite  a lot   

So watch it or I'll get my club out

 

[melba_schmelba]

I read that yesterday and looked up my DNA results. 

23andme  finds  that I have approx 2% neanderthal DNA. Apparently this might be quite  a lot   

So watch it or I'll get my club out

 

I think this is about normal for someone of 100% European descent gadget . My relatives are all around the 220-240s mark.

[Gadget]

I have 253 out of 7,462 variant  and they inform me that

You have more Neanderthal DNA than 77% of other customers

So not really as normal as you say 

[melba_schmelba]

I have 253 out of 7,462 variant  and they inform me that

You have more Neanderthal DNA than 77% of other customers

So not really as normal as you say 

That way of expressing it always seems a bit baffling to me . FWIW I saw a survey 'who has more Neanderthal than me' on another site, and I think around 315 was the highest.

[medpat]

I have 301 my husband has 298 and daughter 313 (she must have some from both of us )

I'm going to hibernate 

[melba_schmelba]

As with all surveys I would take this research with a pinch of salt. There seems to be other evidence that people of African descent may be more susceptible to getting the virus and to getting seriously  ill, yet Africans (of pure African descent) usually have no Neanderthal DNA.

[josey]

But people of African descent may have genetic susceptibilities on a different part of their DNA. They also may not have sufficient exposure to the sunlight in northern climates to make enough Vitamin D to help protect them.

People of Asian descent [particularly Bangladeshi apparently] have a higher proportion of Neanderthal DNA than Europeans and may have susceptibility because of this.

More knowledge about the genetics of susceptibility to contracting and suffering badly from Covid-19 will become known in due course.