Neanderthal and Human Matings Get a Date

Smithsonian 'blogs ^ | August 15, 2012 | Erin Wayman

[SunkenCiv]

Two years ago the analysis of the Neanderthal genome revealed modern humans carry Neanderthal DNA, implying our ancestors mated with Neanderthals at some point in the past. Scientists only found genetic traces of Neanderthals in non-African people, leading to the conclusion that Neanderthal-human matings must have occurred as modern humans left Africa and populated the rest of the world. A new paper (PDF) posted on arXiv.org puts a date on those matings: 47,000 to 65,000 years ago...

To determine what really happened, Sankararaman's team looked at rates of genetic change to estimate when Neanderthals and humans last exchanged genes. If the shared DNA was due to interbreeding, the team expected to find a date less than 100,000 years ago -- some time after humans left Africa. But if it was the result of sharing a common ancestor, they expected a date older than 230,000 years ago, approximately when Neanderthals and modern humans split from each other. The team's findings support the interbreeding scenario: 47,000 to 65,000 years ago.

Neanderthals aren't the only archaic species that may have contributed to the modern human gene pool. Denisovans, known from only a tooth and a finger bone, left a genetic mark in people living in Melanesia and Southeast Asia. And recent genetic evidence suggests that some ancient African populations mated with an unidentified, now-extinct hominid species that lived in Africa.

So far, our knowledge of Neanderthal and Denisovan genetics comes from only a few individuals, so our understanding of interspecies mating is likely to change as more Neanderthal and Denisovan DNA is analyzed.

[SunkenCiv]

;’)

[SunkenCiv]

;’) Ginger Jean Lurkin?

[SunkenCiv]

some from the FRchives, barely sorted:

• Study: Neanderthals, Modern Humans Same Species
• Science Shows Cave Art Developed Early
• Famous Cave Paintings Might Not Be From Humans
• Well preserved mammoth from Siberia shows signs of early man stealing from lions
• Human ancestors used fire one million years ago, archaeologist find
• 'The Oldest (Neanderthal) Work Of Art Ever': 42,000-Year-Old Paintings Of Seals Found In Spain
• Neanderthals ate shellfish 150,000 years ago: study
• Ancient DNA reveals secrets of human history
• Genetic research confirms that non-Africans are part Neanderthal
• Possible new human ancestor found in Siberia
• DNA identifies new ancient human dubbed 'X-woman'
• European Skull's Evolving Story (Neanderthal/Modern Hybrid?)
• Neanderthal and Human Matings Get a Date
• HUMANS, NEANDERTHALS DID NOT HAVE BABIES
• Neanderthal Arm Morphology Caused by Scraping, Not Spear Thrusting
• Neanderthals Had Knowledge Of Plant Healing Qualities
• 300 000 year old flint tools found in Northern France
• New dating puts cave art in the age of Neanderthals
• Spain claims top spot for world's oldest cave art (Is it a Neanderthal "painting?")
• Scientists are accused of distorting theory of human evolution by misdating bones
• Humanity's Best Friend: How Dogs May Have Helped Humans Beat the Neanderthals
• DNA analysis shakes up Neandertal theories
• Genetic Studies of Modern Populations Show Varying Neandertal Ancestry
• Neanderthals were ancient mariners
• Modern flint expert 'reverse engineers' Neanderthal stone axes... our ancestors were...
• Into the mind of a Neanderthal
• Viewpoint: Has 'one species' idea been put to bed?
• Last Neanderthals near the Arctic Circle?
• We do have bigger brains than Neanderthals did
• Neandertals' mammoth building project: Extinct hominids may have been first to build with bones
• Archeologists investigate Ice Age hominins' adaptability to climate change (neandering)
• Modern Humans Interbred with Archaic Humans in East Asia, Study Says
• Homo sapiens arrived earlier in Europe than previously known
• Solving the Mysteries of Short-Legged Neandertals
• Many roads lead to Asia (Denisovans, migrations, etc.)
• Svante Paabo: DNA clues to our inner Neanderthal
• Neanderthal skull fragment discovered in Nice
• Gardens were important to ancient civilizations
• Neanderthal survival story revealed in Jersey caves
• Neanderthal sex boosted immunity in modern humans
• DNA study deals blow to theory of European origins
• Stone Age toe could redraw human family tree
• Modern humans crowded out Europe's Neanderthals
• Few grandparents until 30,000 years ago
• You May Be Part Neanderthal, Scientists Say
• Westerners 'programmed for fatty foods and alcohol'
• Mating with Neanderthals Good for Human Health
• Clues to Neanderthal hunting tactics hidden in reindeer teeth
• Late Neandertals of Russia's North
• Europeans never had Neanderthal neighbors. Russian find suggests Neanderthals died out earlier.
• Neanderthal may not be the oldest Dutchman [ 370,000 years B.P. ]
• Gene research reveals fourth human species
• New ancestor? Scientists ponder DNA from Siberia
• Is the Mysterious Siberian "X-Woman" a New Hominid Species?

[SunkenCiv]

May be time for updating those, thanks familyop!

[douginthearmy]

Didn’t you just post an article a few days ago stating that humans and neanderthal didn’t mate? I think you’re just trying to confuse me o.O

[Reily]

that explains some of the redheads that I dated!

[SunkenCiv]

That was someone else, I think Pharmboy? But I am trying to confuse you, I’m just a one-man barrel of monkeys.

[thouworm]

Related threads:

HUMANS, NEANDERTHALS DID NOT HAVE BABIES

Darwinists Wrong Again on Human Evolution

[JoeProBono]

[dsc]

http://www.themandus.org/

[SunkenCiv]

That site is usually touted by someone else, suffice to say, it is, at best, not to be taken seriously (i.e., it’s a poor attempt at sci-fi) or at best, is just straight garbage.

[dsc]

It seemed to be as plausible as any of the other speculation one sees.

Could you tell me what makes it garbage?

[SunkenCiv]

It’s garbage because it’s entirely fictional; in particular, his cartoonlike apes are not based on Neandertal morphology. He’s pushing fiction, perhaps hoping for a book and/or movie deal. Or maybe he’s just wacked.

[dsc]

Thanks.