For decades, humans have been fascinated by our ancient cousins, the Neanderthals. Recent discoveries in DNA analysis have shed new light on their history and interactions with early modern humans. Led by Joshua Akey, an international team of geneticists and AI experts has found that Neanderthals did not go extinct as previously believed.
According to the study, published in the journal Science, the most direct ancestors of modern humans split from the Neanderthal family tree around 600,000 years ago. However, they didn’t disappear completely. Instead, they continued to interact with Neanderthals for thousands of years, leading to interbreeding and the introduction of Neanderthal DNA into non-African human populations.
The research suggests that Neanderthals were largely absorbed into modern human communities, rather than going extinct. This “assimilation model” was first proposed by Fred Smith in 1989 and is supported by strong genetic data.
Genetic analysis reveals that humans and Neanderthals share about 99.7% of their DNA, with the remaining differences having profound impacts on physiology and cognition. However, these differences also highlight how both species adapted to their environments, with modern humans ultimately outlasting Neanderthals due to a combination of genetic advantages, cultural innovation, and environmental flexibility.
The study provides significant depth to our understanding of human evolution, highlighting a complex history of migration and interaction that shaped our species. It also sheds new light on the evolutionary differences between Homo sapiens (modern humans) and Neanderthals, including their immune systems, brain development, anatomical features, and cultural practices.
Overall, this research is an exciting reminder of how much we still have to learn about human history and evolution. By exploring our ancient past, we can gain a deeper understanding of what makes us who we are today.
Source: https://www.thebrighterside.news/discoveries/new-dna-evidence-finds-that-neanderthals-didnt-go-extinct