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Various programs and cultural events by outstanding specialists on contemporary themes, the global agenda and issues related to mutual understanding between Japan and other countries. Lectures and symposiums on broad subjects in the social sciences and humanities by distinguished scholars and specialists from Japan and abroad.

[OIST―IHJ Distinguished Global Thinkers Series] The Neanderthal Genome and the Evolution of Current Humans

I-House concluded a strategic partnership agreement with the Okinawa Institute of Science and Technology (OIST) in July in commemoration of our 70th anniversary and to promote initiatives addressing global issues. OIST is a pioneering graduate university and innovation hub with researchers from more than 50 countries collaborating across scientific disciplines to pioneer new approaches to discovery and problem-solving.
As a first project under this partnership, we are launching a Distinguished Global Thinkers Series, inviting Dr. Svante Pääbo, OIST Professor and winner of 2022 Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine, as special speaker.

The direct ancestors of all present-day humans originated in Africa and spread out from there and the Near East about 60000 to 70000 years ago. When they did so they encountered Neanderthals in western Eurasia and and Denisovans in eastern Eurasia, earlier forms of humans who came extinct about 40000 years ago. Dr. Svante Paabo’s group determined genome sequences of Neanderthals and Denisovans.

Dr. Pääbo will discuss what genomes of our extinct evolutionary relatives tell us about the origin and history of modern humans. He will also how genetic variants inherited from Neanderthals and Denisovans influence our physiology and propensity for disease today.

Speaker: Svante Pääbo (Director of Max Planck Institute of Evolutionary Anthropology; Adjunct Professor, OIST)
Moderator: Aiko Doden (Special Affairs Commentator of NHK/ Trustee, I-House)
Language: English (with Japanese subtitles)
Coorganizers：International House of Japan, Okinawa Institute of Science and Technology(OIST)

Svante Pääbo

Dr. Pääbo was awarded the Nobel Prize for his discoveries concerning the genomes of extinct hominins and human evolution. He is currently Director of Max Planck Institute for Evolutionary Anthropology and Adjunct Professor of OIST.

Past Programs

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