Humans and Neanderthals...got a little in us ?

A new study has shown that humans interbred with Neanderthals approximately 100,000 years ago, between 40,000 and 50,000 years earlier than first thought.

The new study, published in the journal Nature, reports that genetic analysis of the remains of a Neanderthal woman detected residual DNA from Homo sapiens, a sign of inter-species mating.

The discovery by the Max Planck Institute for Evolutionary Anthropology forces scientists to reasses the accepted timeline of when humans migrated out of Africa to other parts of the world.

One theory is that the recently discovered interbreeding arose from what scientists call a failed dispersal. That refers to a small population of Homo sapiens trekking to the Middle East and other parts of Eurasia, but failing to establish lasting colonies.

The remains of the Neanderthal woman at the center of the study were found in southern Siberia, near the border with present-day Mongolia.

We don't know what happened to them," geneticist Martin Kuhlwilm told Reuters. "It seems likely that this population went extinct, either by environmental changes or maybe direct competition with Neanderthals ... It implies that modern humans left Africa in several waves, some of which probably went extinct."

Neanderthals, renowned for their skill as hunters, lived in modern-day Europe and Asia. The last of them are believed to have died out approximately 40,000 years ago.

Last week, a study published in the journal Science presented evidence that one bit of Neanderthal DNA can boost the risk of tobacco addiction, while others can slightly raise or lower the risk of being diagnosed with depression. Past studies have suggested Neanderthal DNA raises the risk of allergies.

Neanderthals and modern people split off from each other on the evolutionary tree an estimated 600,000 years ago. In people of Asian or European ancestry, around 2 percent of DNA can be traced to Neanderthals.

The Associated Press contributed to this report

Comments

  • rgambsrgambs Posts: 13,576
    This reminds me of Jean M Auel's meticulously researched and very compelling series of novels.

    I wonder what sort of shenanigans caused the interbreeding...did they live in close proximity as equals and fall in love? Was one group dominant and take slaves from the other and breed with them? Were outcasts sold to the other group or maybe just forced out and taken in by the other group? Probably a frontier America scenario where all 3 happening at once in different regions and decades/centuries.
    Monkey Driven, Call this Living?
  • Godfather.Godfather. Posts: 12,504
    I would guess that there was defiantly a dominant group which would explain the eventual disappearance of the Neanderthals, I believe the "people" of those times were hunter gathers and not settlers so I can't really see the sale or trade of the other tribesmen.

    the human brain developed much faster than the Neanderthals , tools, hunting, fishing and acts of war were far advanced compared to the Neanderthals which I believe ended them and yes I would guess women were taken.

    Godfather.
  • rgambsrgambs Posts: 13,576

    I would guess that there was defiantly a dominant group which would explain the eventual disappearance of the Neanderthals, I believe the "people" of those times were hunter gathers and not settlers so I can't really see the sale or trade of the other tribesmen.

    the human brain developed much faster than the Neanderthals , tools, hunting, fishing and acts of war were far advanced compared to the Neanderthals which I believe ended them and yes I would guess women were taken.

    Godfather.

    I would guess women were taken from both sides, hard to imagine they weren't.
    Monkey Driven, Call this Living?
  • JimmyVJimmyV Posts: 19,171
    Phil Hartman would have crushed this story.

    "Do you have any Neanderthal in you? Do you want some?"

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    ___________________________________________

    "...I changed by not changing at all..."
  • brianluxbrianlux Posts: 42,038
    Edward Abbey once claimed he could sense ancient Neanderthal in his genetic make up. He was intelligent and said many brilliant and wise things. The Neanderthal genes were more about his closeness to wilderness. I always found his comment interesting. He seemed to have struck a good balance there.
    “The fear of death follows from the fear of life. A man [or woman] who lives fully is prepared to die at any time.”
    Variously credited to Mark Twain or Edward Abbey.













  • I think I know a few of the descendants of this mixed breeding.
    new album "Cigarettes" out Spring 2025!

    www.headstonesband.com




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