Legacy of Neanderthals

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Neanderthals, or Homo neanderthalensis, are our closest extinct human relative. Some defining features of their skulls include angles cheek bones, and a large nose, useful for humidifying cold, dry air. Neanderthals had a smaller and stouter body structure than ours, but their brains were just as large, often larger. A discovery in 2010, showing that Neanderthals interbred with ancestors of living humans, led scientists to research this history of Neanderthal DNA and how it affects people today. Studies of such DNA have shown a link to the evolution of human skin and fertility, and the exposure to various diseases. But more importantly, they have revealed the enduring legacy of Neanderthals, surviving thousands of years after their extinction.
Before their extinction 30,000 years ago, Neanderthals lived among the closest relatives of modern humans, and shared a common ancestor with us that lived 600,000 years ago. By 2010, researchers had reconstructed most of the Neanderthal genome, comparing it with the genomes of five living humans. After finding similarities in the DNA, researc...

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