TAG: GS 3: SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY
THE CONTEXT: Researchers have recently reported groundbreaking findings in the realm of ancient genetics, discovering chromosomal disorders in prehistoric skeletal remains dating back approximately 5,500 years.
EXPLANATION:
- Notably, this includes instances of both Down syndrome and Edwards syndrome, shedding light on the prevalence and recognition of these conditions in ancient societies.
- A team from the Max Planck Institute for Evolutionary Anthropology conducted a meticulous analysis, screening nearly 10,000 genomes from ancient human skeletal remains across Ireland, Bulgaria, Greece, Spain, and Finland.
- The researchers identified six cases of Down syndrome and a remarkable first-ever instance of Edwards syndrome from historic or prehistoric remains.
Trisomy and its Impact
- Trisomies are characterized by the presence of three copies of a chromosome instead of the typical two.
- It result in conditions like Down syndrome (trisomy 21) and Edwards syndrome (trisomy 18).
- The difficulty in identifying genetic disorders in ancient individuals without modern DNA analysis techniques has limited our understanding of how ancient societies dealt with such conditions.
- The discovered cases span various time periods and regions, with two cases dating back to the Bronze Age (approximately 2,700 BCE) and one from the Neolithic period (around 3,500 BCE).
- The temporal and geographic diversity of these cases provides valuable insights into the prevalence of trisomies across different ancient societies.
Concentration of Cases in Early Iron Age Spain
- Intriguingly, the study reveals a concentration of trisomy cases in early Iron Age Spain (800-400 BCE), suggesting a potentially higher frequency of burials for trisomy carriers in this particular society.
- This insight prompts further questions about the societal responses and perceptions surrounding individuals with chromosomal disorders during that era.
Ritualistic Treatment of Afflicted Individuals
- The researchers note that, regardless of the specific temporal or geographic context, all individuals with trisomies appear to have been cared for after death through various rituals.
- This indicates a recognition of these individuals as integral members of their communities.
- In some instances, individuals received exceptional burials or were accompanied by elaborate grave goods, underscoring the societal acknowledgment of their uniqueness.
Community Recognition and Care
- The inclusion of bronze rings, Mediterranean seashells, and even animal remains in the burials signifies a level of care and recognition extended to those with chromosomal disorders.
- These findings offer a unique perspective on how ancient communities perceived and integrated individuals with such conditions, emphasizing a sense of communal inclusivity.
- This groundbreaking research not only expands our understanding of the prevalence of chromosomal disorders in ancient populations but also provides valuable insights into how these societies responded to and recognized individuals with such conditions.
- The care and ritualistic treatment observed in the burials challenge assumptions about societal attitudes towards diversity and disability in the distant past.
Down Syndrome:
- Down syndrome is a condition in which a person has an extra chromosome. Chromosomes are small “packages” of genes in the body.
- They determine how a baby’s body forms and functions as it grows during pregnancy and after birth.
- Typically, a baby is born with 46 chromosomes. Babies with Down syndrome have an extra copy of one of these chromosomes, chromosome 21. A medical term for having an extra copy of a chromosome is ‘trisomy.’
- Down syndrome is also referred to as Trisomy 21. This extra copy changes how the baby’s body and brain develop, which can cause both mental and physical challenges for the baby.
Edwards’ syndrome (trisomy 18):
- Edwards’ syndrome, also known as trisomy 18, is a rare but serious condition.
- Edwards’ syndrome affects how long a baby may survive. Sadly, most babies with Edwards’ syndrome will die before or shortly after being born.
- A small number (about 13 in 100) babies born alive with Edwards’ syndrome will live past their 1st birthday.