Ancient DNA Variant Still Shapes Human Physique — and Jaw Structure — 47,000 Years Later
Published on 08/13/2026 at 15:03 | Redaktion boerse-global.de
A roll of toilet paper might seem an unlikely tool for workplace wellness, yet ergonomic advice circulating this month suggests exactly that. The humble cardboard cylinder is being pitched as a low-cost aid for releasing tension in the neck, shoulders, and lower back — place it under the chin, along the thoracic spine, or beneath the pelvis for targeted relief. Medical professionals caution, however, that persistent pain warrants proper clinical attention rather than DIY solutions.
The timing coincides with fresh findings on why some bodies respond to strength training more readily than others. Researchers at the Max Planck Institute in Leipzig and Sweden's Karolinska Institute have traced a growth hormone receptor variant back to Neanderthal interbreeding roughly 47,000 years ago — and its effects are measurable in the present day.
Laboratory work showed that cells carrying the ancient variant multiplied 39 percent more vigorously over a five-day period, with the associated signaling pathway firing 22 percent stronger. In living adults, the genetic inheritance translates to an average body weight increase of 285 grams, nearly all of which — about 270 grams — consists of lean muscle mass. That extra tissue distributes unevenly: 150 grams to the arms and legs, 121 grams to the torso.
Study lead Hugo Zeberg stressed that genetics alone don't sculpt a physique. Without dedicated training, the inherited advantage remains dormant, he noted.
The variant's influence extends beyond muscle. Carriers possess a mandibular ramus that is 3.6 millimeters shorter than average and face a threefold higher risk of overbite. Dental anatomy is also affected, with links to taurodontism, a condition characterized by enlarged pulp chambers and altered root structure.
Curiously, the trait shows no measurable effect in childhood. Data from 6,602 participants in the "Born in Bradford" study found no significant differences up to age eleven, suggesting the variant's impact emerges later in development.
Geographic distribution tells a story of ancient migration patterns. South Asian populations carry the variant at rates exceeding 20 percent, reaching as high as 25 percent in some groups. Europeans, by contrast, harbor it in merely 0.5 percent of the population.
These results build on earlier work from July 2025 examining genetic contributions to athletic performance. That predecessor study focused on the AMPD1 gene, identifying a variant that cuts enzyme activity by 25 percent in vitro and up to 80 percent in mouse muscle tissue. Roughly 2 to 8 percent of Europeans carry this version, and their odds of becoming elite athletes drop by half, according to those findings.
Together, the two studies sketch an increasingly detailed picture of how evolutionary inheritance continues to shape human physical potential — from the gym floor to the dentist's chair.
