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Modern humans have a complex and long history of evolution before we arrived at where we are today. We did not always look this way, or behave with such intelligence and display adaptive abilities. Up to this day, some of us still carry the DNA and genes of the human species that have existed long before the Homo Sapiens did, just like Neanderthals.
What Is Neanderthal DNA?
Neanderthals were ancient humans who lived in Europe and Asia several thousand years ago. From their remains and the DNA they left us, scientists have found out that some humans still carry similar genes, which are most likely still affecting our bodies and physiology.
From some of our traits and outside characteristics to our tendencies and deficiencies, Neanderthal DNA is thought to play a role even today. We can’t really find out for sure if someone has a DNA that is completely inherited from a Neanderthal ancestor, but we know that many people outside of Africa have a mixture of small Neanderthal DNA, most likely from our ancestors interbreeding with them.
This phenomenon could only be discovered in humans whose ancestors did not originate from Africa. Scientists estimate that some could even have up to 4% Neanderthal DNA. So, here are a few signs that you might also possess some Neanderthal DNA, no matter how small.
Read more: Live Science
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1. Thicker or Straighter Hair
Scientists found out before that Neanderthal DNA could influence some humans’ hair type. If you have Neanderthal ancestry, you might get their slightly thicker or straighter hair.
2. Red Hair Connection
Neanderthals have also been researched to contribute to the variations in modern humans’ hair color, including having red hair. Some studies have found that at least 1% of Neanderthals in Europe might have had red hair. So, if you have this color, there is also a possibility that you have Neanderthal ancestry.
3. Sleep Patterns
Are you a morning or a night person? Research suggests that Neanderthal DNA can also influence circadian rhythms and sleep patterns. If you prefer to wake up early in the morning and start your day, there is a higher likelihood that you have their DNA.
4. Immune System
Having Neanderthal DNA has also been linked to an increased in the possibility of getting certain diseases and allergies. Famous examples would be COVID-19 and type 2 diabetes. However, it does not mean that if you have had certain diseases that you have Neanderthal DNA, but, it can mean that you are more likely to carry their genes if you are more prone to those immune system deficiencies.
5. Increased Fertility
Scientists have estimated that around one-third of all European women inherited the genes of the Neanderthal receptor for the hormone progesterone, which could mean that you have an increased fertility rate and fewer miscarriages. So, if you are a woman in Europe with very strong fertility, you have a higher chance of having Neanderthal DNA in your genome.
6. Pain Sensitivity
Research suggests that people who suffer more pain than others or are more sensitive to it likely have a higher chance of having Neanderthal DNA. It could be hard to know since we all have different levels of pain sensitivity.
7. Nicotine Addiction
Nicotine addiction or having a hard time quitting smoking is an unusual trait that is also linked to having Neanderthal DNA in modern humans. It is not because they were smokers thousands of years ago, but rather, they have a specific mutation in their DNA that is involved in brain signaling, which is linked to addiction to nicotine.
Author's Final Thoughts
Discovering Neanderthal DNA in our own genes shows just how much we are connected to our ancestors, even thousands of years later. It reminds us of how they lived and survived during their time on this planet have been passed on to us, and that these traits will continue to shape who we are today towards the future.
References & Further Reading
Sankararaman, S., et al. (2014). The genomic landscape of Neanderthal ancestry in present-day humans. Nature. https://doi.org/10.1038/nature12961
Simonti, C. N., et al. (2016). The phenotypic legacy of admixture between modern humans and Neandertals. Science. https://doi.org/10.1126/science.aad2149
Dannemann, M., & Kelso, J. (2017). The contribution of Neanderthals to phenotypic variation in modern humans. American Journal of Human Genetics. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ajhg.2017.09.010
Velazquez-Arcelay, K., et al. (2023). Archaic introgression shaped human circadian traits. Genome Biology and Evolution. https://doi.org/10.1093/gbe/evad203
Zeberg, H., et al. (2020). A Neanderthal sodium channel increases pain sensitivity in present-day humans. Current Biology. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cub.2020.06.045
Dannemann, M., Andrés, A. M., & Kelso, J. (2016). Introgression of Neandertal- and Denisovan-like haplotypes contributes to adaptive variation in human toll-like receptors. American Journal of Human Genetics. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ajhg.2015.11.015
Gunz, P., et al. (2019). Neandertal introgression sheds light on modern human endocranial globularity. Current Biology. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cub.2018.10.065
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