Business Insight No End To Discoveries. It would not be totally accurate to call me obsessed with the Nobel Prize process, but I must say it is very interesting to watch every year how the Royal Swedish Academy of Science selects candidates and eventually awards the prize to the top individual. I am particularly intrigued by physiology and medicine reward as it is usually closer to where my judgement is. It is way above my paygrade to deeply discuss and understand some of the details, but, in short, this year's Nobel in physiology and medicine went to a scientist who dedicated his life to genetics. Svante Paabo, working with international genetic teams in Sweden, Germany, USA, Croatia, and Egypt developed a newer method of selecting clean genetic DNA material from ancient bones, removing any type of residual contemporary contamination. It turned out to be quite a task, but, with development of 'clean rooms, he was able to detect DNA from specimens as old as 40,000 years. In that super purified methodology, he further identified that some of our histories of origin of humans are not exactly what we thought they were. Just as a reminder, human-homo sapiens, were thought to come from Neanderthals, following them in chronology. New discoveries identified a brand-new pre- human species that were named Denisova. Further and more shocking, it turns out that Neanderthals, Denisova, and homo sapiens co-existed and interbred. There were DNA mixtures discovered allowing to identify interbreeding of these three, which is almost revolutionary to our theory of evolution. presented by Arlington Dermatology Paabo combined thousands if not millions of samples of purified DNA from archaic sites around the world and identified certain migration and residences of early humans. Neanderthals and Denisova were inhabiting Euroasian continent while homo sapiens lived in Africa. How and when exactly they migrated and connected in communities is yet to be found. Certainly, you can ask: how does it even matter? It turns out it does, and it matters for a very contemporary medicine. The DNA variants were further linked to some modern medicine developments of targeted biologics that work directly with receptors of our immune system. Those variants are currently studied for further development of COVID vaccines, medications for many immune related disorders, and prevention of cancer. Working further, it is possible that we will be able to link some of the diseases to one of the three origins and measure our risk of developing them. Can you imagine that the breakthrough came from a discovery of a 40,000-year-old 5th finger of a young individual buried in ancient caves? I always continue saying that medical science like almost all other sciences is not static. What is true today maybe turned down in a year. The dynamics of medicine and constant development is the most intriguing part of my job as a doctor. It requires my constant attention to what is happening around the world. It also proves that we, Americans, are not an isolated island. We must work together, globally, with scientists from all countries. This is not only the greatest of benefits of today's world, but it is also the greatest benefit for patients who need new drugs and new methods of treatment. By the way, I am really intrigued by this 40,000-year-old finger. Who did it belong to? What was his life? How did he die? How did he look? Perhaps we will find out some answers soon. Michael Bukhalo, MD Arlington Dermatology 5301 Keystone Court Rolling Meadows, IL 60008 Tel. 847 392 5440 | www.arlingtondermatology.net Business Insight No End To Discoveries . It would not be totally accurate to call me obsessed with the Nobel Prize process , but I must say it is very interesting to watch every year how the Royal Swedish Academy of Science selects candidates and eventually awards the prize to the top individual . I am particularly intrigued by physiology and medicine reward as it is usually closer to where my judgement is . It is way above my paygrade to deeply discuss and understand some of the details , but , in short , this year's Nobel in physiology and medicine went to a scientist who dedicated his life to genetics . Svante Paabo , working with international genetic teams in Sweden , Germany , USA , Croatia , and Egypt developed a newer method of selecting clean genetic DNA material from ancient bones , removing any type of residual contemporary contamination . It turned out to be quite a task , but , with development of ' clean rooms , he was able to detect DNA from specimens as old as 40,000 years . In that super purified methodology , he further identified that some of our histories of origin of humans are not exactly what we thought they were . Just as a reminder , human - homo sapiens , were thought to come from Neanderthals , following them in chronology . New discoveries identified a brand - new pre human species that were named Denisova . Further and more shocking , it turns out that Neanderthals , Denisova , and homo sapiens co - existed and interbred . There were DNA mixtures discovered allowing to identify interbreeding of these three , which is almost revolutionary to our theory of evolution . presented by Arlington Dermatology Paabo combined thousands if not millions of samples of purified DNA from archaic sites around the world and identified certain migration and residences of early humans . Neanderthals and Denisova were inhabiting Euroasian continent while homo sapiens lived in Africa . How and when exactly they migrated and connected in communities is yet to be found . Certainly , you can ask : how does it even matter ? It turns out it does , and it matters for a very contemporary medicine . The DNA variants were further linked to some modern medicine developments of targeted biologics that work directly with receptors of our immune system . Those variants are currently studied for further development of COVID vaccines , medications for many immune related disorders , and prevention of cancer . Working further , it is possible that we will be able to link some of the diseases to one of the three origins and measure our risk of developing them . Can you imagine that the breakthrough came from a discovery of a 40,000 - year - old 5th finger of a young individual buried in ancient caves ? I always continue saying that medical science like almost all other sciences is not static . What is true today maybe turned down in a year . The dynamics of medicine and constant development is the most intriguing part of my job as a doctor . It requires my constant attention to what is happening around the world . It also proves that we , Americans , are not an isolated island . We must work together , globally , with scientists from all countries . This is not only the greatest of benefits of today's world , but it is also the greatest benefit for patients who need new drugs and new methods of treatment . By the way , I am really intrigued by this 40,000 - year - old finger . Who did it belong to ? What was his life ? How did he die ? How did he look ? Perhaps we will find out some answers soon . Michael Bukhalo , MD Arlington Dermatology 5301 Keystone Court Rolling Meadows , IL 60008 Tel . 847 392 5440 | www.arlingtondermatology.net