US EditionNeanderthal males and human females had babies together, ancient DNA reveals
Genetic analysis shows Neanderthal DNA averages 1-2% in modern non-African humans and suggests male Neanderthals predominantly mated with female Homo sapiens.
- On Feb. 26, the journal Science published a University of Pennsylvania study finding interbreeding was mostly between male Neanderthals and female anatomically modern humans.
- Before this study, scientists suggested natural selection or incompatibility hypotheses to explain the 'Neanderthal deserts' in the human X chromosome.
- Comparing Neanderthal and human genomes revealed Neanderthal X chromosomes carry 62% more human DNA than other chromosomes, a mirror pattern supporting mating behavior.
- The study suggests this pattern helps explain present‑day Neanderthal ancestry, revealing why modern humans have low, uneven Neanderthal DNA affecting circadian rhythms, immune system function and pain.
- The authors caution that alternatives remain plausible as the study cannot rule out lower survival of offspring from human males and Neanderthal females, and research is limited by a handful of high-quality Neanderthal genomes and modelling and simulations.
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Ancient coupling may have happened more between human females and Neanderthal males
Ancient linkups may have happened more frequently between female humans and male Neanderthals, according to an new genetic analysis. Scientists know that Neanderthals and humans mated because there is a small percentage of Neanderthal DNA in most modern humans. But…
Archaeogenetics: Around 50,000 years ago, there was regular sexual contact between Neanderthals and Homo sapiens. Now it turns out that this was mainly about…
In prehistoric interbreeding, it was Neanderthal men and Homo sapiens women
When Homo sapiens trekked out of Africa, our species encountered Neanderthal populations already inhabiting the vast expanses of Europe, Asia and the Middle East. As the presence of Neanderthal DNA in most present-day people shows, interbreeding occurred, though the circumstances have remained unclear.
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