Confirmation of microevolutionary increase in spina bifida occulta among Swiss birth cohorts

Lee, Yu Chao; Solomon, Lucian B.; Rühli, Frank J; Schiess, Regula; Öhrström, Lena; Sullivan, Thomas; Alkadhi, Hatem; Henneberg, Maciej

doi:10.1007/s00586-010-1519-2

Cited by 14 publications

(10 citation statements)

References 12 publications

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“…Similar to the increase in the prevalence of persistent median arteries of the forearms, the prevalence of other anatomical features such as spina bifida occulta Solomon et al, 2009;Lee et al, 2010), tarsal coalitions (Solomon et al, 2003) and fabella (Berthaume et al, 2019) has increased over the last 2-3 centuries. Evidence indicates that changes in the natural selection pressures acting on these specific anatomical features could have caused microevolutionary processes, leading to the observed increases in prevalence rates (Henneberg and Henneberg 1999;Solomon et al, 2009;Lee et al, 2010;Rühli and Henneberg, 2013;Berthaume et al, 2019).…”

Section: Rodriguezmentioning

confidence: 85%

Recently increased prevalence of the human median artery of the forearm: A microevolutionary change

2020

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The median artery has been considered as an embryonic structure, which normally regresses around the 8th week of gestation. However, various prevalences have been reported in adults since the 18th century. Furthermore, in a study by Henneberg and George (1995; Am J Phys Anthropol 96, 329–334), has suggested that increasing prevalence of the median artery during the 20th century was a ‘possible secular trend’. The present study, conducted nearly a quarter of a century later, is a continuation of that study. A total of 26 median arteries were found in 78 upper limbs obtained from Australians aged 51 to 101 years, who died in the period 2015–2016, a prevalence rate of 33.3%. Analysis of the literature showed that the presence of the median artery has been significantly increasing (p = .001) over time, from approximately 10% in people born in the mid‐1880s to approximately 30% by the end of the 20th century. The significance of the prevalence increased to a p value <.0001, when the results of the present study and other studies conducted by our research team were combined. After removal of the studies that were possibly biased, because of their specific focus on the evolutionary aspects of the median artery, the significance remained at p = .018. The present study provides an example of microevolutionary changes in the internal anatomy of the human body. Second‐order polynomial regression of the median artery's prevalence on dates of birth shows that it is now present in 35% of people and predicts that people born 80 years from now will all carry a median artery if the trend continues. When the median artery prevalence reaches 50% or more, it should not be considered as a variant, but as a ‘normal’ human structure.

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Section: Rodriguezmentioning

confidence: 85%

Recently increased prevalence of the human median artery of the forearm: A microevolutionary change

2020

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“…; Lee et al. ). Less well known is that an open S4 arch is seen in 40–70% of individuals, and an open S3 arch in 5–20%, an open S2 arch in ~ 7%, an open S1 arch in ~ 20%, and an open L5 arch in only < 1% (Fidas et al.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 98%

“…; Lee et al. ). These data clearly show that the nonclosure of the vertebral canal is more prevalent in the sacral than the lumbar vertebrae and becomes progressively more frequent caudally.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 98%

Closure of the vertebral canal in human embryos and fetuses

et al. 2017

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The vertebral column is the paradigm of the metameric architecture of the vertebrate body. Because the number of somites is a convenient parameter to stage early human embryos, we explored whether the closure of the vertebral canal could be used similarly for staging embryos between 7 and 10 weeks of development. Human embryos (5-10 weeks of development) were visualized using Amira 3D reconstruction and Cinema 4D remodelling software. Vertebral bodies were identifiable as loose mesenchymal structures between the dense mesenchymal intervertebral discs up to 6 weeks and then differentiated into cartilaginous structures in the 7th week. In this week, the dense mesenchymal neural processes also differentiated into cartilaginous structures. Transverse processes became identifiable at 6 weeks. The growth rate of all vertebral bodies was exponential and similar between 6 and 10 weeks, whereas the intervertebral discs hardly increased in size between 6 and 8 weeks and then followed vertebral growth between 8 and 10 weeks. The neural processes extended dorsolaterally (6th week), dorsally (7th week) and finally dorsomedially (8th and 9th weeks) to fuse at the midthoracic level at 9 weeks. From there, fusion extended cranially and caudally in the 10th week. Closure of the foramen magnum required the development of the supraoccipital bone as a craniomedial extension of the exoccipitals (neural processes of occipital vertebra 4), whereas a growth burst of sacral vertebra 1 delayed closure until 15 weeks. Both the cranial- and caudal-most vertebral bodies fused to form the basioccipital (occipital vertebrae 1-4) and sacrum (sacral vertebrae 1-5). In the sacrum, fusion of its so-called alar processes preceded that of the bodies by at least 6 weeks. In conclusion, the highly ordered and substantial changes in shape of the vertebral bodies leading to the formation of the vertebral canal make the development of the spine an excellent, continuous staging system for the (human) embryo between 6 and 10 weeks of development.

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“…In the skeletal system, opening of the sacral canal ( spina bifida occulta ) became more common in cohorts born in the second half of the 20th century than it was before [46], and tarsal coalitions appear more often in more modern times, too [47]. Skeletal pathologies such as ossification of the posterior longitudinal ligament of the spine have increased [48] as have diffuse idiopathic skeletal hyperostosis [49].…”

Section: Possible Approaches In Future Em Studiesmentioning

confidence: 99%

New perspectives on evolutionary medicine: the relevance of microevolution for human health and disease

Rühli

Henneberg

2013

BMC Med

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Evolutionary medicine (EM) is a growing field focusing on the evolutionary basis of human diseases and their changes through time. To date, the majority of EM studies have used pure theories of hominin macroevolution to explain the present-day state of human health. Here, we propose a different approach by addressing more empirical and health-oriented research concerning past, current and future microevolutionary changes of human structure, functions and pathologies. Studying generation-to-generation changes of human morphology that occurred in historical times, and still occur in present-day populations under the forces of evolution, helps to explain medical conditions and warns clinicians that their current practices may influence future humans. Also, analyzing historic tissue specimens such as mummies is crucial in order to address the molecular evolution of pathogens, of the human genome, and their coadaptations.

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Confirmation of microevolutionary increase in spina bifida occulta among Swiss birth cohorts

Cited by 14 publications

References 12 publications

Recently increased prevalence of the human median artery of the forearm: A microevolutionary change

Recently increased prevalence of the human median artery of the forearm: A microevolutionary change

Closure of the vertebral canal in human embryos and fetuses

New perspectives on evolutionary medicine: the relevance of microevolution for human health and disease

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