Your comment made me think of something, I'll share it as a "PSA" in case it helps someone stay safe.
Neanderthal DNA has been linked to severe outcomes from COVID.[0] To me that means I'll get vaccinated (and strain specific boosters that may have to happen), full stop. But if I have a choice of more than one type of vaccine available at the same time (unlikely? But still), then I will try to keep this in mind. Other than that it just means I will be extra careful.
Disclaimer: not a scientist; and anything I say here is first-person (I'm in the demographic groups I'm referring to).
My non-scientific speculation: there is a chance the stuffy nose could be a proxy for high neanderthal DNA. I say that because other sinus and nasal issues are among the things linked to genes inherited from Neanderthals. They had different anatomies in that regard. I've read it could have been an adaptation to cold.
I've also read that the extinction of Neanderthals may have been related to viruses causing respiratory problems/diseases.[1]
Anyways, the point is, that some of these genes could correlate with severe outcomes from coronavirus.
If a reader knows their genetics, and/or knows people who have mentioned they have a relatively high amount of neanderthal DNA... You might want to think about it or mention it to them. Especially if they have other respiratory or sinus things going on.
[btw I accidentally posted this comment to the wrong thread then moved it. Not trying to spam or rant, I'm just bad at commenting because I rarely comment. Anxiety and so on...]
Hey FYI looks like you got an auto ban, I've emailed the mods to get them to review in case it's a false positive.
This was an interesting comment. I don't think it is particularly likely that Neanderthal DNA is associated with more stuffy noses, but who knows! An interesting hypothesis for sure.
Neanderthal DNA has been linked to severe outcomes from COVID.[0] To me that means I'll get vaccinated (and strain specific boosters that may have to happen), full stop. But if I have a choice of more than one type of vaccine available at the same time (unlikely? But still), then I will try to keep this in mind. Other than that it just means I will be extra careful.
Disclaimer: not a scientist; and anything I say here is first-person (I'm in the demographic groups I'm referring to).
My non-scientific speculation: there is a chance the stuffy nose could be a proxy for high neanderthal DNA. I say that because other sinus and nasal issues are among the things linked to genes inherited from Neanderthals. They had different anatomies in that regard. I've read it could have been an adaptation to cold.
I've also read that the extinction of Neanderthals may have been related to viruses causing respiratory problems/diseases.[1]
Anyways, the point is, that some of these genes could correlate with severe outcomes from coronavirus.
If a reader knows their genetics, and/or knows people who have mentioned they have a relatively high amount of neanderthal DNA... You might want to think about it or mention it to them. Especially if they have other respiratory or sinus things going on.
[0]:
https://www.nature.com/articles/s41586-020-2818-3
https://www.sciencemag.org/news/2020/12/neanderthal-gene-fou...
[1]:
https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2019/09/190919080755.h...
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[btw I accidentally posted this comment to the wrong thread then moved it. Not trying to spam or rant, I'm just bad at commenting because I rarely comment. Anxiety and so on...]