Unraveling the Enigma: Neanderthal DNA and Human Ancestry

A new study analyzing 4,464 Eurasian genomes, both ancient and modern, reveals the extent of genetic exchange between Homo sapiens and Neanderthals. The research shows that early farmers migrating from Anatolia and the Levant diluted the amount of Neanderthal ancestry in European populations around 10,000 years ago, explaining the higher proportion of Neanderthal ancestry in East Asian populations compared to Western European ones. The study also suggests that the farther Homo sapiens migrated out of Africa, the more Neanderthal DNA they acquired. The findings shed light on the complex interactions and interbreeding between the two hominin species.