RIDGE RUNNER CHRONICLES: About Those Neanderthal Genes in Your Body
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Geneticists tell us that over 500,000 years ago, humans and Neanderthals separated into two distinct species, the humans being technically referred to as “Homo sapiens” and the Neanderthals being technically referred to as “Homo neanderthalensis.” Normally, distinct species don’t interbreed with other species but according to a recent study conducted at the University of Pennsylvania and published on February 26 in “Science”, it appears that as recently as 50,000 years ago, some human females were breeding with Neanderthal males to the exclusion of human males.
So why did these human females find Neanderthal males more attractive than human males? Was it the notorious Neanderthal breath, the pronounced slope of the Neanderthal forehead, that jutting mandible or those guttural sounds human males can’t possibly duplicate? We will never know for sure, but it certainly would have been interesting to be a fly on the wall during a “first date” between a female human and a male Neanderthal—a “first date” truly devoid of pretenses.
As a result of those adventuresome encounters between human females and Neanderthal males 50,000 years ago, geneticists tell us that today, some human bodies still have between 1% and 4% of their genetic codes tracing back to those Neanderthal genes. The degree to which an individual human has a percentage of Neanderthal genes in his genetic code will, oddly enough, depend on when that individual’s genetic ancestors left Africa and moved north into Europe. Those ancestors moving into Europe earlier are likely have a greater percentage of Neanderthal genes than those ancestors moving into Europe later because at some point during this migration of humans, the Neanderthals died off before the migration ended.
So if we humans potentially have genes traceable back to the Neanderthals, how does that genetic influence show itself today? (No, it does not relate to the male desire to have a man-cave). Generally, it is believed that the genetic influence of the Neanderthal on humans can be seen primarily in the human immune system because, simply put, Neanderthals encountered European diseases and developed immunities that did not exist for humans migrating out of Africa into Europe.
As time goes on, the genetic influences of the Neanderthal on humans has continued to be diluted—sorry, guys, if you were hoping for a genetic-based excuse of your unacceptable after-midnight behavior.
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■ Bill Hoagland has practiced law in Alton for more than 50 years, but he has spent more than 70 years hunting, fishing and generally being in the great outdoors. His wife, Annie, shares his love of the outdoor life. Much of their spare time is spent on their farm in Calhoun County. Bill can be reached at [email protected].
