DNA Extracted From Dirt to Learn More About Ancient ‘Red Lady'
First discovered in 2010, the 'Red Lady of El Mirón' is an ochre-coated skeleton that provides a glimpse into human life following the last glacial maximum some 21,000 years ago.
A new study analyzes sedimentary ancient DNA, or sedaDNA, to provide more context to the comings and goings—both human and animal—of the El Mirón Cave as well as the Red Lady's ancestry.
This breakthrough DNA technique allows researchers to examine entire past ecosystems without relying on bones or other artifacts.
Some 19,000 years ago, a 35-to-40-year-old woman, coated in red ochre, was buried in a cave in what is now northern Spain. This was a tough time for her people, likely still recovering from the last glacial maximum. Nicknamed the 'Red Lady' due to her ochre-coated bones, she was a member of the Magdalenian people of the late Upper Paleolithic—people not so unlike us.
Fast-forward to 2010, archaeologists uncovered her remains in what is now called El Mirón Cave, providing a vital glimpse into this little known era of human prehistory. Now the same scientists who discovered her remains and subsequently reported on the discovery in 2015 are providing even more context related to the lineage of this unknown woman by analyzing a new kind of DNA. Called sedimentary ancient DNA or sedaDNA, this technique allows scientists to understand the various inhabitants of El Mirón Cave spanning some 46,000 years without the need to directly analyze bones or other artifacts. The results of the study were published in the journal Nature Communications.
'The results show that several animals not represented by bones from the dig were present —either once living in the cave or as carcass pieces,' the University of New Mexico's Lawrence Straus, who originally discovered the 'Red Lady' in 2010 and co-authored the new study, said in a press statement. 'As with everything else at El Miròn DNA-wise, the preservation of DNA in dirt here is extraordinary.'
These previously unmentioned animals, at least in the fossil records, include cave hyenas, leopards, cave lions, and, surprisingly, a species of dhole that's now only found in parts of Asia. They also found some larger species of hoofed animals as well, including wooly mammoth, reindeer, and rhinoceros.
However, the most fascinating discovery is that the team also found human DNA belonging to the 'Fournol' genetic ancestry, a Western European hunter-gather group that lived during the height of the last glacial maximum around 25,000 to 21,000 years ago. Incredibly, the researchers tied this DNA with similarities found in the Red Lady's DNA as well.
'These were the people whose range had contracted southward during the climatic crisis and who preceded the Red Lady of El Miron and contributed to her DNA,' Straus says. 'We now know who the predecessors of the Red Lady were, confirming evidence from other sites with DNA from bones and teeth.'
The ability extract DNA from sediment layers, particularly at a site like El Mirón Cave, give scientists the ability to examine human-animal habitation cycles as well as entire environments without the need of physical remains. Because of its 46,000 years of unbroken DNA information, archeologists can peer back into a time when Homo neanderthalensis occupied the area all the way up to modern Homo sapiens in the Upper Paleolithic.
'We don't need bones,' Straus said.
You Might Also Like
Can Apple Cider Vinegar Lead to Weight Loss?
Bobbi Brown Shares Her Top Face-Transforming Makeup Tips for Women Over 50
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Yahoo
16 hours ago
- Yahoo
Cholesterol Isn't Just About Heart Health—It May Be the Missing Link In Alzheimer's, Says New Study
"Hearst Magazines and Yahoo may earn commission or revenue on some items through these links." A new study suggests that there's a link between how well you move cholesterol to the neurons in your brain and Alzheimer's disease. This factor is connected to the APOE4 genetic variant, which significantly increases your risk of developing the disease. Here's what to know and what this means for Alzheimer's research. Alzheimer's disease sparks a cascade of changes throughout the body that lead to a slew of debilitating symptoms. But there's one surprising biological change that researchers are just starting to uncover, thanks to a new study. The study, which was published in the Journal of Lipid Research, found that people with Alzheimer's disease experience a breakdown in the ability to shuttle cholesterol to the neurons in their brain, and that this symptom is linked to a certain genetic variant called APOE4, which carries a known risk for Alzheimer's. This biological discovery could potentially pave the way for a better understanding of the disease and even future disease prevention methods. Here's what you need to know about the science so far, with input from a neurologist. Meet the expert: Clifford Segil, DO, is a neurologist at Providence Saint John's Health Center in Santa Monica, CA. What did the researchers find? For the study, researchers analyzed the cerebrospinal fluid (the biological liquid that surrounds and cushions the brain and spinal cord) from 10 patients with Alzheimer's disease and compared it to the cerebrospinal fluid of 10 people who did not have the condition. They discovered that lipoproteins (round particles made of fat and protein) in the cerebrospinal fluid of Alzheimer's patients were less effective at delivering cholesterol to neurons, or nerve cells, which are responsible for transmitting information from the brain throughout the body. What is cholesterol? Cholesterol is an essential, waxy, fat-like molecule that your body needs for good health, according to the National Heart Lung and Blood Institute (NHLBI). Cholesterol is carried around your body by two types of lipoproteins: low-density lipoproteins (a.k.a. LDL or 'bad' cholesterol) and high-density lipoproteins (a.k.a. HDL or 'good' cholesterol). High levels of LDL cholesterol can cause a buildup of fatty deposits called plaque in your arteries, raising the risk of heart attack, stroke, and other health complications, per the NHLBI. But high levels of good HDL cholesterol may lower the risk for certain health issues. Why is it important for brain function? While it has a bad rap in the health world, cholesterol is actually really important for your proper brain function. Your brain is the most cholesterol-rich organ in your body. Specifically, cholesterol helps make up cell membranes, including those in nerve cells, and plays a crucial role in your neurons' ability to "talk" to each other and transmit information. When cholesterol levels are out of balance, it can impact that transmission of essential information between nerve cells, leading to cognitive issues that are seen with neurodegenerative diseases like Alzheimer's disease. Cholesterol is also a building block for steroid hormones, which support brain function. However, that doesn't mean more cholesterol is always good for your brain. High levels of LDL cholesterol are usually considered a modifiable risk factor for ischemic stroke, or 'clogged pipes' in the brain, explains Clifford Segil, DO, a neurologist at Providence Saint John's Health Center in Santa Monica, CA. 'There is less research and understanding on the possible benefits of cholesterol found in spinal fluid including HDL, which we classically identify as the 'good cholesterol,'' Dr. Segil says. 'We know high levels of certain types of cholesterol cause strokes and we are less clear in the year 2025 about the benefits of cholesterol in brain function.' How does this link back to Alzheimer's? This particular study noted that cholesterol found in lipoproteins were different in patients with Alzheimer's disease, but Dr. Segil says that there is a 'complicated' relationship between lipids and protein in the brain. 'Some researchers continue to assign memory loss symptoms in patients with Alzheimer's due to abnormal brain protein levels and this paper noted lipid brain levels may also be abnormal,' he says. Dr. Segil points out that neurologists commonly prescribe medications called statins to lower levels of cholesterol and the risk of stroke. Lowering levels of LDL cholesterol can decrease the risk of developing certain type of dementia, including vascular dementia, he says. But it's not clear if it may do more. 'Further research will determine if lowering your cholesterol will result in lower chances of getting Alzheimer's dementia,' he says. You Might Also Like Jennifer Garner Swears By This Retinol Eye Cream These New Kicks Will Help You Smash Your Cross-Training Goals Solve the daily Crossword
Yahoo
17 hours ago
- Yahoo
Cholesterol Isn't Just About Heart Health—It May Be the Missing Link In Alzheimer's, Says New Study
"Hearst Magazines and Yahoo may earn commission or revenue on some items through these links." A new study suggests that there's a link between how well you move cholesterol to the neurons in your brain and Alzheimer's disease. This factor is connected to the APOE4 genetic variant, which significantly increases your risk of developing the disease. Here's what to know and what this means for Alzheimer's research. Alzheimer's disease sparks a cascade of changes throughout the body that lead to a slew of debilitating symptoms. But there's one surprising biological change that researchers are just starting to uncover, thanks to a new study. The study, which was published in the Journal of Lipid Research, found that people with Alzheimer's disease experience a breakdown in the ability to shuttle cholesterol to the neurons in their brain, and that this symptom is linked to a certain genetic variant called APOE4, which carries a known risk for Alzheimer's. This biological discovery could potentially pave the way for a better understanding of the disease and even future disease prevention methods. Here's what you need to know about the science so far, with input from a neurologist. Meet the expert: Clifford Segil, DO, is a neurologist at Providence Saint John's Health Center in Santa Monica, CA. What did the researchers find? For the study, researchers analyzed the cerebrospinal fluid (the biological liquid that surrounds and cushions the brain and spinal cord) from 10 patients with Alzheimer's disease and compared it to the cerebrospinal fluid of 10 people who did not have the condition. They discovered that lipoproteins (round particles made of fat and protein) in the cerebrospinal fluid of Alzheimer's patients were less effective at delivering cholesterol to neurons, or nerve cells, which are responsible for transmitting information from the brain throughout the body. What is cholesterol? Cholesterol is an essential, waxy, fat-like molecule that your body needs for good health, according to the National Heart Lung and Blood Institute (NHLBI). Cholesterol is carried around your body by two types of lipoproteins: low-density lipoproteins (a.k.a. LDL or 'bad' cholesterol) and high-density lipoproteins (a.k.a. HDL or 'good' cholesterol). High levels of LDL cholesterol can cause a buildup of fatty deposits called plaque in your arteries, raising the risk of heart attack, stroke, and other health complications, per the NHLBI. But high levels of good HDL cholesterol may lower the risk for certain health issues. Why is it important for brain function? While it has a bad rap in the health world, cholesterol is actually really important for your proper brain function. Your brain is the most cholesterol-rich organ in your body. Specifically, cholesterol helps make up cell membranes, including those in nerve cells, and plays a crucial role in your neurons' ability to "talk" to each other and transmit information. When cholesterol levels are out of balance, it can impact that transmission of essential information between nerve cells, leading to cognitive issues that are seen with neurodegenerative diseases like Alzheimer's disease. Cholesterol is also a building block for steroid hormones, which support brain function. However, that doesn't mean more cholesterol is always good for your brain. High levels of LDL cholesterol are usually considered a modifiable risk factor for ischemic stroke, or 'clogged pipes' in the brain, explains Clifford Segil, DO, a neurologist at Providence Saint John's Health Center in Santa Monica, CA. 'There is less research and understanding on the possible benefits of cholesterol found in spinal fluid including HDL, which we classically identify as the 'good cholesterol,'' Dr. Segil says. 'We know high levels of certain types of cholesterol cause strokes and we are less clear in the year 2025 about the benefits of cholesterol in brain function.' How does this link back to Alzheimer's? This particular study noted that cholesterol found in lipoproteins were different in patients with Alzheimer's disease, but Dr. Segil says that there is a 'complicated' relationship between lipids and protein in the brain. 'Some researchers continue to assign memory loss symptoms in patients with Alzheimer's due to abnormal brain protein levels and this paper noted lipid brain levels may also be abnormal,' he says. Dr. Segil points out that neurologists commonly prescribe medications called statins to lower levels of cholesterol and the risk of stroke. Lowering levels of LDL cholesterol can decrease the risk of developing certain type of dementia, including vascular dementia, he says. But it's not clear if it may do more. 'Further research will determine if lowering your cholesterol will result in lower chances of getting Alzheimer's dementia,' he says. You Might Also Like Jennifer Garner Swears By This Retinol Eye Cream These New Kicks Will Help You Smash Your Cross-Training Goals Solve the daily Crossword
NBC News
21 hours ago
- NBC News
Study reveals how fat cells can fuel cancer tumors
Being overweight or obese has long been linked to a greater risk of developing or dying from breast cancer. New research suggests a reason: Certain breast cancer tumors may feed on neighboring fat cells. The findings may help scientists find ways to treat triple-negative breast cancer, which is notoriously aggressive and has lower survival rates. Moreover, the results may apply to any cancer that uses fat as an energy source, according to the report, published Wednesday in Nature Communications. Triple-negative accounts for about 15% of all breast cancers. It tends to be more common in Black women and women under 40 and is more likely to recur than other cancers. The breast tumor cells appear to gain access to the fat cells' content by poking a straw-like structure into the fat cells and then dislodging the lipids stored there. If researchers can find a way to block tumors from tunneling into neighboring fat cells without harming patients, they might have a way to cure the often deadly cancers, said the study's lead author, Jeremy Williams, a postdoctoral scholar at the University of California, San Francisco. 'Aggressive cancer cells can co-opt different nutrient sources to help them grow, including by stimulating fat cells in the breast to release their lipids,' Williams said. 'In the future, new treatments might starve the tumor cells by preventing their access to lipids from neighboring cells.' Lipids are fatty compounds, such as cholesterol, that are used largely for energy storage in the body. Williams and his colleagues ran multiple experiments, some using tissue from breast cancer patients and others using a mouse model of a breast cancer patient. In the experiments exclusively using human tissue, the researchers examined fat cells at varying distances from tumor cells. They found that the closer the fat cells were to tumor cells, the more depleted in lipids they were. When the researchers blocked the tumor cells' ability to build the straw-like structures, officially known as gap junctions, the tumors stopped growing. They found a similar result in a mouse model, in which tumor cells from breast cancer patients were tweaked genetically so they lost some of their ability to make gap junctions. When the tissue was implanted in mice, the mice were protected. 'Knocking out a single gene impaired the formation and progression of the tumor,' Williams said. Williams and his colleagues started looking at mechanisms to explain an earlier finding from the lab he worked at. 'These tumors were burning fatty acids as a source of energy,' he said. 'It seemed an urgent question to answer where the fatty acids were coming from.' As it turns out, several medications that inhibit gap junction formation are being studied in early-phase clinical trials for other purposes, Williams said. How cancer 'grows and feeds itself' Dr. Julia McGuinness, a breast cancer specialist and an associate professor of medicine at the Columbia University Vagelos College of Physicians and Surgeons, said it's the first evidence of a mechanism showing the association between fat and cancer. It's also 'suggesting one pathway to treat aggressive cancers for which we don't have any good therapies,' McGuinness said. 'We already know that obese women who have these kinds of cancer have worse outcomes.' The new research may also suggest that lifestyle modifications that would help women achieve healthy weights might also protect against such cancers, McGuinness said. 'Slimming down could be protective,' she said, adding that obesity has been shown to be a risk factor for all breast cancers. The authors of the study found ways to look at the mechanism linking fat to breast cancer growth in ways that couldn't be tested in human beings, said Justin Balko, the Ingram professor of cancer research at Vanderbilt University Medical Center. 'They found a new way cancer grows and feeds itself,' Balko said. 'If some of the same effects are observed in humans, it might be fodder for differences in the way we treat patients.' But there are caveats, Balko said. 'For example, we don't know if this is a major mechanism by which breast cancer grows in humans,' he said. 'But it makes a lot of sense.'
