Shipwreck bones suggest being right- or left-handed may influence chemical changes in the clavicle as you age

A living ship viewed from the center of the ship toward the bow. The scenery projected on the hull reflects the activities that took place in each area. The “players” are volunteers and staff, wearing copies of clothing and using replicas of artifacts. To the left is the main deck gallery containing authentic artifacts, located opposite where they were discovered during excavations. A sloping walkway follows the line of the main deck. Credit: Hufton + Crowe. Mary Rose Trust via Dr. Alex Hildred, CC-BY 4.0 (creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/)
A new study of human bones excavated from the wreck of the 16th-century British warship Mary Rose reveals how the chemistry of the clavicle changes as people age, depending on whether they are right-handed or left-handed. This suggests that it may have an impact on Dr. Sheona Shankland from Lancaster University, UK, and colleagues published these findings in the open access journal PLOS ONE on October 30, 2024.
The Mary Rose was part of the Tudor navy during the reign of Henry VIII. She was sunk on July 19, 1545 while engaging French ships at the Battle of the Solent. Excavated in the late 20th century, the ship’s remains and the skeletal remains of its crew were particularly well preserved, allowing extensive research into the crew’s belongings, appearance, and health.
Now Dr Shankland and colleagues are providing new insights into the biology of the 12 men, aged between 13 and 40, who went down with the ship. This study investigated how bone chemistry adjusts in response to physical activity and aging, so a person’s bone chemistry may provide clues about their lifestyle. .
In this case, researchers used a nondestructive laser technique called Raman spectroscopy to analyze human clavicle (clavicles) taken from a shipwreck to determine the chemical properties of the bones.
The analysis focused on the two main components of bone: organic proteins and inorganic minerals. The results showed that mineral content increased and, to a lesser extent, protein content decreased in the 12 men with age.
These age-related changes were more pronounced in the right clavicle than in the left clavicle. A higher percentage of people are born right-handed than left-handed, and at the time the Mary Rose sank, left-handedness was strongly discouraged because it was associated with witchcraft.
Therefore, assuming a preference for right-handedness among crew members, this finding suggests that handedness influences clavicle chemistry, perhaps by placing more stress on the right side during repeated ship-related activities. This suggests that there is a possibility that
The authors note that further research on Mary Rose’s clavicle is needed to better understand these findings. Nevertheless, this study contributes to the continuing understanding of age-related changes in handedness and bone chemistry, which potentially influence the risk of fractures, osteoarthritis, and other bone conditions. Possibly.
Dr. Shena Shankland said, “I grew up fascinated by Mary Rose, so it’s wonderful to have the opportunity to work with these remains. The bone preservation and non-destructive nature of the technique allows us to… “You can learn more about Mary Rose.” It furthers our understanding of the lives of these sailors as well as the human skeleton as it relates to the modern world. ”
Dr Gemma Kearns added: “With these unique and valuable human bones, we are able to learn more about the lives of 16th century seafarers, while also learning about age-related changes in bone composition that are relevant today. It was an honor,” he added. Health is very attractive. ”
Professor Adam Taylor said: “This study sheds new light on what we know about the clavicle and its calcification. The bone plays a vital role in attaching the upper limb to the body and is one of the most “It’s one of the bones that is more prone to fractures,” he added.
Dr. Alex Hildred added: “Our museum is dedicated to those who died defending their country. The hull is surrounded on three sides by galleries containing their belongings, and I continue to investigate their lives through active research. The properties of Raman spectroscopy make it an ideal research tool for investigating human remains.
“I am delighted that the current research being carried out at Lancaster Medical School not only provides more information about crew life, but also demonstrates the versatility of Raman. The fact that the ship sank is still both surprising and humbling, nearly 500 years after the age of navigation.
More information: Shining a light on the Mary Rose: Identifying chemical differences in human aging and sailor clavicle handedness using Raman spectroscopy, PLOS ONE (2024). DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0311717
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Source: Shipwreck Bones Suggests Being Right- or Left-handed May Affect Clavicle Chemical Changes with Age (October 30, 2024) https://phys.org/ Retrieved October 30, 2024 from news/2024-10-bones-shipwreck-left-handedness-influence.html
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