Illustration of a paper published in Nature magazine, Neanderthal gene possession distribution map

　The author is monozygotic twins, and since she was a child, she has been very interested in genes and has read various literatures, and has an experience of asking doctors questions.

A research paper was published in the electronic version of the British scientific journal Nature on September 30 that the corona turmoil will be triple the chances of people carrying the Neanderthal genetic code becoming more severe. What is very interesting is that the symptoms of this new coronavirus are also influenced by genetic factors.

　Of the 23 chromosomes in the human genome, the gene mutation in chromosome 3 is known to be associated with aggravation. It seems that they inherited this gene from an ancestor common to modern humans and Neanderthals 500,000 years ago, but they seemed to coexist until the Neanderthals became extinct 40,000 years ago. It seems that Neanderthals were much better at physical fitness than Homo sapiens, and their brains were heavier than Homo sapiens. We conclude that even more recent matings are likely to have been passed down to humanity today.

I wonder why such a talented Neanderthal was extinct during the Ice Age, or why Homo sapiens, who had poor physical strength, survived. The Neanderthals seemed strong and wise enough to hunt for prey in small numbers, but Homo sapiens seemed to be weak and physically capable of catching prey in groups. Living in groups of thousands helped each other and secured food during the ice age, but Neanderthals lived in groups of more than a dozen people, making it difficult to help each other and they had become extinct.

The author was convinced by trial and error that supporting and helping each other was the root of culture. The genes of culture will also be inherited. One of the inheritances in the visible form is that the Japanese custom of worshiping the rising sun from ancient times and starting the day is still inherited.

There are Kyoto vegetables such as Kamo eggplant, suguki, Kamo green onion, and Red shiso （Aka shiso） in Kyoto, but the seeds are only available to Kyoto vegetable farmers in the Kamigamo area. It can be said to be a defense measure to protect seeds that match the climate. This is also a kind of culture. It is a culture of accurately inheriting Kyoto vegetables by protecting the seeds.

　It’s surprising that an unexpectedly long-standing gene is involved in the aggravation of today’s new coronavirus. Especially in Bangladesh, 63% of people carry the gene fragment, 16% in Europe, 50% in South Asia, and few in East Asia and Africa. A magnificent history of the birth and evolution of mankind. As of October, India has infected 7 million people and 100,000 people have died.

　In 2008, a third unknown human the Denisovan was discovered whose teeth found in a cave called Denisovan Siberia, are neither modern nor Neanderthals. It seems that they were mating with each other from 40,000 to 60,000 years ago. It is also surprising that the three kind of human ancestors coexisted.

In the magnificent history where the gene flow is derived from the Neanderthals, it is mysterious that the present human beings are alive and our own existence is mysterious every day.

I would like to inherit the genes of culture and convey the splendor of Kyoto culture.

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