Nobel Prize lecture: Svante Pääbo, Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine 2022

The script begins with a warm welcome to the 2022 Nobel Lecture in Physiology or Medicine by Ola Petter Stensson, the president of the Karolinska Institute. He emphasizes the celebration of scientific achievements that have significantly contributed to humankind, as per Alfred Nobel's vision. Stensson introduces Professor Svante Pääbo, the recipient of the 2022 Nobel Prize for his work on the genomes of extinct hominins and human evolution, and expresses excitement for Pääbo's upcoming lecture. The setting is the first in-person event after a three-year hiatus, and the presence of laureates from previous years is acknowledged.

This paragraph delves into Svante Pääbo's academic background, starting from his diverse interests during his time at Uppsala University, including history of sciences, egyptology, and Russian language studies. It highlights his transition to medicine and subsequent research in molecular biology under the guidance of Walter Schaffner. Pääbo's innovative work in ancient DNA extraction from Egyptian mummies and his methodological developments in the field are underscored. The narrative follows his career to the University of California, Berkeley, and his significant contributions to human evolutionary genetics, leading to the establishment of the Max Planck Institute for Evolutionary Anthropology in Leipzig.

The paragraph discusses the groundbreaking work of Svante Pääbo in sequencing the Neanderthal genome, a task considered highly challenging due to the age of the samples. It describes the technological advancements in sequencing that facilitated this work and the collaborative efforts required for data analysis. The successful draft of the Neanderthal genome in 2010 and the discovery of a new hominin, the Denisovans, from genetic data alone are highlighted. The paragraph also touches on the evolutionary insights gained from comparing Neanderthal and modern human genomes, revealing instances of interbreeding and the presence of archaic DNA in present-day humans of Eurasian ancestry.

This section of the script focuses on the broader context of human evolution, detailing the geographical spread of modern humans out of Africa and their encounters with Neanderthals and other hominins in Eurasia. It discusses the research conducted by Pääbo's team on Neanderthals, their genetic relationship with modern humans, and the technical challenges overcome to retrieve ancient DNA. The paragraph also explores the implications of the genetic findings for understanding human physiology and the unique aspects of Homo sapiens.

The script presents a detailed genetic analysis comparing Neanderthal and modern human genomes. It describes the formation of a consortium to study the genetic variants shared between Neanderthals and different human populations worldwide. The analysis revealed a greater genetic similarity between Neanderthals and non-African populations, suggesting interbreeding events after modern humans left Africa. The paragraph also discusses the identification of unique genetic variants in Neanderthals and modern humans, providing insights into their evolutionary divergence.

This paragraph introduces the discovery of the Denisovans, a previously unknown hominin species identified through genetic analysis of a bone fragment found in Siberia. It discusses the genetic contribution of Denisovans to modern human populations, particularly in mainland Asia and Oceania. The script also examines the population history of Denisovans and their interactions with Neanderthals and modern humans, adding a layer of complexity to the understanding of human evolution.

The script provides evidence of hybridization between Neanderthals and modern humans, as demonstrated by the genetic analysis of ancient human remains from Europe. It describes how early modern humans in Europe interbred extensively with Neanderthals, resulting in long segments of Neanderthal DNA in their genomes. The paragraph also discusses the assimilation of Neanderthals and Denisovans into larger modern human populations and the implications of these findings for our understanding of human history.

This section delves into the genetic legacy of Neanderthals in modern humans, discussing specific genetic variants that have been inherited and their potential effects on human physiology. It highlights the role of Neanderthal variants in pain perception, reproductive biology, and immune response. The script also discusses the distribution of these variants across different populations and their implications for health and disease.

The script examines the impact of Neanderthal genetic variants on modern humans' susceptibility to diseases, including COVID-19 and HIV. It discusses specific genetic loci associated with severe COVID-19 outcomes and how these variants may have influenced the course of the pandemic. The paragraph also explores the protective effects of some Neanderthal variants against HIV infection and the complex interplay between genetic heritage and disease risk.