[Nepeta]

That Neandertals and Cromagnons interbred is, IMNVHO, an established fact. Now the question becomes, "How well and how often did they interbreed?" Was the half-breed hybrid offspring successful? As a hybrid a Neandertal/Cromagnon cross might have been mostly sterile, like a horse/donkey cross.

Given the prevalence of Neanderthal DNA in world populations, the hybrids were anything but sterile.

[Kenny Bunk]

Given the prevalence of Neanderthal DNA in world populations, the hybrids were anything but sterile.

What I was attempting to ask, in my Holiday Inn Express-educated way was, "is it possible that the hybrids (i.e., Neander/Cromagnon) were not uniformly successful and that eventually the Neandertal portion of our DNA became sort of like, well, tiny?"

Also, are there populations around today where the Neandertal Quotient is much higher? Like take me, for instance. I have a long pointy nose and like really thin lips, a big cleft chin, but very prominent brow ridges. How much Neandertal DNA might I have? And, would a DNA test tell me how much?

Many women express an interest in redecorating my cave, but so far I have not had to club any of them.

[SunkenCiv]

/bingo