Neanderthals in Gene Pool, Study Suggests

NYTimes.com ^ | November 9, 2006 | JOHN NOBLE WILFORD

[indcons]

Scientists have found new genetic evidence that they say may answer the longstanding question of whether modern humans and Neanderthals interbred when they co-existed thousands of years ago. The answer is: probably yes, though not often.

In research being published online this week by the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, the scientists reported that matings between Neanderthals and modern humans presumably accounted for the presence of a variant of the gene that regulates brain size.

Bruce T. Lahn of the University of Chicago, the report’s senior author, said the findings demonstrated that such interbreeding with relative species, those on the brink of extinction, contributed to the evolutionary success of modern humans.

Other researchers in evolutionary biology said the new study offered strong support for the long-disputed idea that archaic species like Neanderthals contributed to the modern human gene pool.

Two other reports of DNA studies of possible mixing of human and related genes are expected to be published in the next few weeks.

[indcons]

I'm not surprised.

[indcons]

Possible GGG ping?

[NaughtiusMaximus]

Undeniably true. They had a major impact on Tuesday's election.

[jess35]

No, that would be Neanderthal, not Swine.

[A_perfect_lady]

I knew this. My last boyfriend had a brow ridge you wouldn't believe.

[Red Badger]

Yeah, and they ALL VOTED Tuesday!.......

[100-Fold_Return]

Like a Chriss Angel Mindfreak disappearance act, problems with illegal immigrations and the housing bubble bursting has now just vanished, with real conservatives gasping, "Oh, my gawd!!! How did they do that!"

[Red Badger]

They can be found mainly in the NFL............

[Lijahsbubbe]

This is usually a picture for inbreeding, but I think I can use it here as well.

[Vaquero]

Milford Wolpoff is right as I always believed.

I just finished reading "Race and Human Evolution: A Fatal Attraction" by Milford Wolpoff and Rachel Caspari

and he and his wife tell a most compelling tale. One can also gather that the 'OUT of AFRICA' theory (the opposing theory that discounts Wolpoff's 'Multiregional Theory') is more concerned with Political Correctness than scientific fact.

Just my $0.02

[johnny7]

Tuesday proves it...

[Adder]

"The answer is: probably yes, though not often."

Thats 'cause their wimmenses were so ugly. It too a lot of fermented aurock's milk to make them look good at the end of the night.

[CaptRon]

Guess those Geico ads aren't that far off.

[indcons]

[sheik yerbouty]

His first cousins are his most distant relatives..

[indcons]

[davisfh]

"One can also gather that the 'OUT of AFRICA' theory (the opposing theory that discounts Wolpoff's 'Multiregional Theory') is more concerned with Political Correctness than scientific fact."

You're right, and most rational people with functional gray matter have always known that.

[Biggirl]

We got a gentle reminder of this Tuesday in the mid-term elections.

[Lijahsbubbe]

His family tree is a wreath.

[4CJ]

problems with illegal immigrations and the housing bubble bursting has now just vanished

And W kotowed to Pelosi offering Rumsfeld as a blood sacrifice to the Dimocrat (sic) altar of genocide. Maybe now 'pubbies will once again be CONSERVATIVES, and not big government liberals. Maybe they'll also understand that it was Christians that put them in office 1994-2004.