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Which modern human genes were inherited from Neanderthals?
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Neanderthal
Artist's rendering of Homo neanderthalensis, who ranged from western Europe to Central Asia for some 100,000 years before dying out approximately 30,000 years ago.
Modern humans of Eurasian descent carry approximately 1–4% of their DNA from Neanderthals due to interbreeding that occurred between 80,000 and 50,000 years ago. While this genetic contribution is widespread, specific genes inherited from Neanderthals have been identified for their functional roles in modern humans:12
- Immune Response: Several shared genes are involved in the human immune response.1
- Dystrophin Gene: A region of the X chromosome known as dys44 (part of the dystrophin gene) is present in 9% of modern human populations outside of Africa. This region includes the B006 haplotype, which is directly traced to Neanderthal interbreeding.1
- Physical Traits: Some inherited genes are linked to skin complexion, particularly among East Asian populations.1
- Health Risks: Certain inherited genes are associated with an increased risk of developing type 2 diabetes when individuals follow a typical Western diet.1
These findings highlight the complex legacy of interbreeding between archaic and modern human groups as our ancestors migrated out of Africa.12