Neanderthals and Homo Sapiens Interbred in Eurasia 47,000 Years Ago for 7,000 Years

Dec 13, 2024, 03:00 AM

Two independent studies have provided new insights into the timeline of when Neanderthals and Homo sapiens interbred. The research, published in the journals 'Science' and 'Nature', indicates that the interbreeding began approximately 50,500 years ago and continued for about 7,000 years. This period of gene flow likely occurred as Homo sapiens migrated out of Africa and encountered Neanderthals in Eurasia. The studies analyzed the genomes of over 300 ancient and modern humans, revealing that modern humans outside of Africa today share a common Neanderthal ancestry from this period. The research also highlights the benefits of Neanderthal genes, which include traits related to skin pigmentation, immune response, and metabolism, that were advantageous for early humans adapting to new environments. Notably, the oldest modern human genomes ever sequenced, from individuals in Ranis, Germany, and Zlatý kůň, Czechia, show evidence of this Neanderthal ancestry, suggesting that these early Europeans, who had dark skin, dark hair, and brown eyes, were among the first to interbreed with Neanderthals.