Swedish Scientist Wins Nobel Prize in Medicine for Research on Early Humans

coveries on human evolution. His work shows how our immune system works differently from our long-ago ancestors, the Nobel group said.\n\nNew methods\n\nPääbo has led the development of new methods that permit researchers to compare the genes of modern humans, also known as Homo sapiens, and that of some human relatives, like the Neanderthals and Denisovans.\n\nScientists first found Neanderthal bones in the mid-19th century. But looking at their genetic code, or DNA, helps them fully understand the links between species. Pääbo studies the time when modern humans and Neanderthals went separate ways as a species. That was around 800,000 years ago.
proved their chances to survive in their new environments,” said Wedell. For example, Tibetans share a gene with Denisovans that helps them live in high mountain areas.\n\nNils-Goran Larsson is a Nobel Assembly member. He told the Associated Press, “Svante Pääbo has discovered the genetic makeup of our closest relatives. And the small differences between these extinct human forms and us as humans today will provide important insight into our body functions and how our brain has developed and so forth.”
David Keyton, Frank Jordans and Laura Ungar reported on this story for the Associated Press. Jill Robbins adapted it for Learning English