Scientists have used ancient genetics to learn more about the relationship between Neanderthals and humans tens of thousands of years ago.
The results of two recent studies estimate that the two groups may have met and intermarried 45,000 years ago.
Modern humans – also known as Homo sapiens – originated in Africa hundreds of thousands of years ago and later spread to Europe, Asia and other places. Scientists believe that at one time they met and met Neanderthals. The amalgamation of these groups has had a great impact on people. genetics.
However, scientists are not sure when or how these two groups interacted. But two new studies shed more light on the timing of this discussion.
Another group of scientists analyzed genes from three women and three men of Homo sapien who lived about 45,000 years ago. The Reuters news agency reported that the findings involve the oldest Homo sapiens genes ever analyzed, or sequenced.
Some of the genes were from bones found in a cave in the central German village of Ranis. Another piece of information came from a woman who is believed to have lived around the same time in a cave in a mountainous area in what is now the Czech Republic.
Researchers estimate the time of interbreeding between Neanderthals and humans at around 49,000 to 45,000 years ago. The findings were recently published in a study of Nature.
The second group of researchers analyzed genes from 300 modern and ancient Homo sapiens. This included 59 people who lived between 2,000 and 45,000 years ago. That study, published in the journal Scienceestimated time of mixing is about 50,500 to 43,500 years ago.
The scientists say their new findings on interbreeding and interbreeding suggest that the activities took place more recently than previously thought. They believe that communication continued through many generations.
Priya Moorjani was a co-author of the study that appears in the Science. He is an assistant professor of molecular and cellular biology at the University of California, Berkeley. He told Reuters, “Genetic data from these examples it really helps us paint the picture more fully. ”
The team noted that it is difficult to determine the exact type of interaction between Homo sapiens and Neanderthals based on the analyzed data. Researchers also could not confirm exactly where the intermarriage took place. However, they believe it was probably somewhere in the Middle East.
Researchers have noted that most modern humans still carry genes from Neanderthals that make up 1 to 2 percent of their DNA. They mentioned modern genetics Particles related to skin color, hair color and even the shape of the nose can be related to Neanderthals. Our genetic makeup also includes links to another group of human ancestors called the Denisovans.
Moorjani noted that Neanderthals’ history of living outside of Africa for thousands of years may have given them the ability to cope with climate and disease in new areas. Some of their genes may have evolved benefit to the people of today,” he added.
Rick Potts is director of the Smithsonian Institution’s Human Origins program. He was not involved in the new research. Potts told The Associated Press that he hopes future genetic studies can help scientists learn more about Neanderthals’ interaction with modern humans.
He said, “It comes from a lot insist in scientific research areas, one of them is: who are we? ”
I’m Caty Weaver.
Bryan Lynn wrote this story for VOA Learning English, based on reports from The Associated Press, Reuters and Nature.
Quiz – Scientists Use Ancient DNA to Estimate Relationship Between Humans, Neanderthals
Start the Quiz to find out
_______________________________________________________
Words in this Story
genetics – n. information from DNA or RNA that is used to produce proteins in an organism
cave – n. a large hole in the side of a mountain or underground
for example – n. the small amount of an object that gives information about the object from which it is taken
characteristic – n. quality, good or bad, in another person’s character
benefit – adj. helpful or effective
insist – adj. that needs attention
#Scientists #Ancient #Gems #Estimate #Relationship #Humans #Neanderthals
