A study from Uppsala University, recently published in the scientific journal Nature, represents the largest analysis so far of ancient African DNA. In addition to expected changes related to the immune system and brain, genetic variants linked to kidney function were also found. The specific genetic changes related to kidney function and the number of ancient bone fragments analyzed have not been detailed, nor have the time periods of the prehistoric humans or other genetic changes beyond immune system, brain, and kidney function been fully disclosed.
According to SVT Uppland, Mattias Jakobsson described the findings about kidney function as surprising because no one has seen this before. Humans have a unique ability to cool our bodies through sweating, and kidney function and the body's ability to regulate fluids may have been crucial for surviving activities like long-distance hunting, according to Mattias Jakobsson. How these genetic changes specifically affect modern human health or traits remains unclear.
This surprised us because it's something no one has seen before.
Humans have a unique ability to cool our bodies through sweating. And then one can imagine that kidney function, and the body's ability to regulate fluids, were crucial for surviving, for example, long-distance hunting.