Post by cjm on Oct 6, 2017 7:15:31 GMT
Struggling to get a tan? Blame your Neanderthal ancestors
Scientists also now think that differences in hair colour, mood and whether someone will smoke or have an eating disorder could all be related to inter-breeding, after comparing ancient DNA to 112,000 British people who took part in the UK Biobank study.
A separate study by Cambridge University also gave clues as to why Neanderthal populations died out, while modern humans thrived.
Genetic studies of Upper Paleolithic skeletons from Sunghir in Russia show no inbreeding in modern humans, unlike Neanderthals where inbreeding can be seen in genetic mutations. Objects and jewellery found at the site, linked to different tribes, also suggest that modern humans selected partners from a wider network of group, and may have even held rudimentary marriage ceremonies, swapping precious objects.
Genetic studies of Upper Paleolithic skeletons from Sunghir in Russia show no inbreeding in modern humans, unlike Neanderthals where inbreeding can be seen in genetic mutations. Objects and jewellery found at the site, linked to different tribes, also suggest that modern humans selected partners from a wider network of group, and may have even held rudimentary marriage ceremonies, swapping precious objects.
Based on new genetic material taken from a Neanderthal female who lived in Croatian around 50,000 years ago, scientists now estimate that Europeans owe up to 2.6 per cent of their DNA to Neanderthals, not the 2.1 per cent which was previously thought.