[martianagent]

"Our results add to the evidence collected previously in different fields, making the hypothesis of a 'Neandertal heritage' very unlikely," said Giorgio Bertorelle...

Doesn't that make the entire theory of evolution very unlikely? In other words, if we're not descended from neanderthals, then from what? Neanderthals and homo sapiens are the two basic species of human-like creatures we have evidence for; everything else is basically apes or ape-like creatures.

[rmlew]

One can explain the separate adn competing hominid species of H. Sapien Neanderthalis and H. Sapien Sapien(Cro-Magnon/Modern Humans) quite easily. They each spereately evolved from H. Erectus. Neanderthals left Africa first, Cro-Magnon came 80,000 years later. Cro-Magnon were smarter and more adaptable. Thus they out competed and/or killed off the Neanderthals.

This is hardly unique. Bonbos and Chimpanzees are the closest living relatives to humans. These great apes are virtually identical. However, Chimps are more competitive and will hunt for food. The Bonobos preffer a pure cegitarian diet and have a society built of sexual relations. Bonobos are dying out. Chimps survive.