A recent study has significantly expanded our understanding of human evolution by revealing that early humans and Neanderthals had repeated contact and genetic exchange over the past 250,000 years. Led by Joshua Akey from Princeton’s Lewis-Sigler Institute for Integrative Genomics, a team of geneticists and artificial intelligence experts used a new tool called IBDmix to analyze DNA from present-day humans, three Neanderthals, and one Denisovan.
The study found that early humans and Neanderthals interacted extensively, with evidence suggesting they had ongoing relationships rather than brief or isolated contact. This challenges previous theories that viewed Neanderthals as crude or unsophisticated. The research reveals that Neanderthals were skilled at crafting tools, hunted with precision, and even treated injuries using methods far ahead of their time.
The team identified three waves of contact between humans and Neanderthals over the past 250,000 years, with the largest wave occurring around 50-60,000 years ago. This suggests that modern humans migrated out of Africa shortly after arising and interacted with Neanderthals and Denisovans more than previously recognized.
The study also found that the Neanderthal population was smaller than previously believed, with an estimated size of around 2,400 breeding individuals. The research supports Fred Smith’s hypothesis that Neanderthals were largely absorbed into modern human communities rather than going extinct.
The discovery sheds new light on the complex history of migration and interaction between humans and their ancient cousins, highlighting a history of repeated contact and genetic exchange that shaped our species.
Source: https://www.thebrighterside.news/discoveries/humans-and-neanderthals-are-far-more-connected-than-once-thought