A genetics expert told DailyMail.com that DNA from Neanderthals still has a small but noticeable impact on people today. This is because, long ago, humans and Neanderthals interbred.
It’s thought that about 60,000 years ago when early humans left Africa and moved into Asia, they mingled with Neanderthals. This mixed DNA traveled with them as they spread to different parts of the world.
It’s estimated that modern humans share about two percent of Neanderthal DNA. According to genetics expert Sebnem Unluisler, this DNA has some unexpected implications for the human race.
Some of the Neanderthal traits are more dominant than others.
Research shows that Neanderthal DNA is linked to different hair traits, like having thicker or straighter hair. There’s also evidence that Neanderthals had a higher chance of having a gene connected to red hair.
Neanderthal genes also influence a person’s ability to tan and how likely they are to get sunburned. In 2018, a study by the Max Planck Institute for Evolutionary Anthropology in Germany researched Neanderthal DNA and compared it with DNA from 112,000 people in the UK Biobank. The researchers found that different Neanderthal genes affect skin and hair colors. People with Neanderthal genes might have lighter or darker skin, and some might have genes that help protect their skin from sunlight in places with less sun.
Other indications a person may have dominant Neanderthal genes are as plain as the noses on their face. A study from University College London found that having a long nose can be linked to Neanderthal genes. The researchers looked at people from Latin America and compared their DNA with photos of their faces. They found that a certain part of the genome, called ATF3, came from Neanderthals. This might have helped early humans adapt to colder weather after leaving Africa. The researchers think Neanderthals had longer noses to help them adjust to the cold air.
Smokers may be able to blame their addiction on genetics. One part of Neanderthal DNA can increase the risk of becoming addicted to nicotine. This is interesting because Neanderthals lived in Europe long before tobacco was introduced. Researchers from Vanderbilt say that this DNA might have helped Neanderthals adapt to new environments, but now it can lead to problems like nicotine addiction.
Researchers also found that some Neanderthal DNA is linked to some mental health issues like depression.
People who rise before the sun in the morning might have Neanderthal DNA to thank for being an early bird. Research suggests that Neanderthal genes related to our circadian rhythm, the body’s sleep-wake cycle, could be part of this.
Researchers at Vanderbilt University found 16 genes linked to waking up early in Neanderthal DNA samples from 120,000 and 52,000 years ago. Some of these genes, called “clock genes,” are related to how our bodies manage sleep and waking times. These genes might have helped early humans adapt to different lengths of day as they moved to new places. People with Neanderthal ancestry might have different sleep patterns because of these genes.
Oddly enough, Neanderthal genes seem to affect people’s susceptibility to COVID-19. Early in the pandemic, a study found that some of our DNA inherited from Neanderthals made some people more likely to get seriously sick from COVID-19. People with this Neanderthal DNA were more prone to severe symptoms, like lung problems.
Another study from Tartu University found four specific Neanderthal genes that might be responsible for these severe cases. These genes are thought to be linked to “cytokine storms,” which can happen in severe COVID-19 cases.
Studying Neanderthal genes helps scientists understand how our genes can affect our health and how we respond to treatments. By looking at Neanderthal DNA, researchers find out which genes are linked to diseases like diabetes and asthma, and this helps them create better ways to prevent and treat these conditions. Neanderthal genes also help doctors personalize treatments to fit each person’s genetic makeup.
This research might lead to new medicines and a better understanding of how our ancestors adapted to different environments.
Until now, calling someone a “Neanderthal” was an insult. But this research proves that, in some cases, it’s actually true.
