Diverse, Connected Neanderthals Challenge the Extinction Narrative
TL;DR
A 27-Neanderthal genome study from Belgium and France shows late Neanderthals were genetically diverse and part of connected regional populations, challenging the idea of a single declining group; they carry no clear rise in harmful mutations, and while Neanderthals contributed DNA to modern humans, there was little reciprocal gene flow, highlighting regional extinction patterns and a more nuanced history.
Topics:sciencehuman-history#ancient-dna#human-evolution#human-history#neanderthals#population-genetics#regional-diversity
- The Last Neanderthals Weren’t the Genetic Disasters We Thought Gizmodo
- Genetic diversity of late Neanderthals in northwestern Europe Nature
- Ancient DNA Of The Last Northwestern Neanderthals Shoots Down A Leading Theory Of Why They Went Extinct IFLScience
- Surprising diversity found among Europe's last Neanderthals Phys.org
- Neanderthals in Western Europe were doing well right before they went extinct Newsroom | UCLA
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