Unraveling the Enigma: Neanderthal DNA's Journey and Impact on Europeans
A new study suggests that the mingling of early Europeans with the first farmers from the ancient Middle East led to a decrease in the proportion of Neanderthal DNA in European populations compared to Asian populations. The study analyzed over 4,000 genomes and found that European hunter-gatherers had a slightly higher proportion of Neanderthal DNA than Asian populations, but this declined during the transition to a farming lifestyle. The arrival of farmers from Anatolia further diluted Neanderthal DNA in European populations. However, East Asian populations likely did not undergo this dilution. The study provides insights into the genetic variation and migration patterns of early humans.