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Neanderthals’ Genetic Crisis Triggered Their Extinction 100,000 Years Ago

By aimee yang
Neanderthals’ Genetic Crisis Triggered Their Extinction 100,000 Years Ago

The extinction of Neanderthals is a big mystery. Scientists think many things could have caused it. These include climate change and conflicts with modern humans.

Some experts wonder if Neanderthals didn’t have enough genetic variety to survive. A new study supports this idea. It suggests a big drop in their genetic diversity happened before they disappeared.

Researchers used ear canal shapes and Neanderthal genetics to find clues. They found signs of less genetic variety about 100,000 years ago.

By comparing the ear shapes of Neanderthals and modern humans from different areas, they learned about differences in human types. The study focused on fossils from places like Croatia and France.

It seems something caused a big drop in their population before they went extinct around 40,000 years ago. This study does not explain why this happened, but factors like climate change and competition could be reasons.

The researchers want to look at more fossils to learn more about Neanderthals. Their findings are published in the journal Nature Communications.

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Vocabulary List:
6 words · tap to reveal
ON

Accent

Extinction/ɪkˈstɪŋkʃən/noun
The state or process of a species family or larger group being or becoming extinct.

Diversity/daɪˈvɜːrsɪti/noun
The state of being diverse; variety.

Genetic/dʒəˈnɛtɪk/adjective
Relating to genes or heredity.

Comparison/kəmˈpærɪsən/noun
The act of comparing; the state of being compared.

Fossil/ˈfɑːsəl/noun
The remains or impression of a prehistoric organism preserved in petrified form or as a mold or cast in rock.

Population/ˌpɒpjuˈleɪʃən/noun
All the inhabitants of a particular town area or country.
Vocabulary Learning

How much do you know?

What are some possible reasons for the extinction of Neanderthals according to scientists?
Climate change
Conflicts with modern humans
Lack of genetic variety
All of the above
When did the drop in genetic diversity of Neanderthals occur as mentioned in the study?
Around 100,000 years ago
Around 40,000 years ago
Around 50,000 years ago
Around 10,000 years ago
Which method did researchers use to find clues about Neanderthals?
Ear canal shapes
Fingerprints
DNA sequencing
Hair samples
Where did the study focus on fossils of Neanderthals and modern humans?
Croatia and France
Italy and Spain
Germany and Sweden
Japan and Australia
What do researchers want to do to learn more about Neanderthals?
Study more fossils
Study modern humans
Build a time machine
Forget about Neanderthals
Which journal published the findings of the researchers?
Nature Communications
Science Daily
National Geographic
Journal of Archaeology
Neanderthals had enough genetic variety to survive.
The study focused on genetic diversity in Neanderthal ear canal shapes.
The extinction of Neanderthals occurred around 40,000 years ago.
The researchers are not interested in studying more fossils of Neanderthals.
Climate change is not considered as a possible reason for Neanderthals' extinction.
The drop in Neanderthals' population occurred around 10,000 years ago.
The big drop in Neanderthals' genetic diversity happened before they disappeared around years ago.
Researchers used ear canal shapes and Neanderthal genetics to find clues about the lack of genetic variety approximately years ago.
The study focused on fossils from places like and France.
Factors like climate change and competition could be reasons for the big drop in Neanderthals' .
The researchers want to look at more fossils to learn more about .
The findings of the researchers are published in the journal .
This question is required
aimee yang
aimee yanghttps://esl-news.com

Test Your Understanding

Start Quiz
Vocabulary List:
6 words · tap to reveal
ON
Accent
Extinction/ɪkˈstɪŋkʃən/noun
The state or process of a species family or larger group being or becoming extinct.
Diversity/daɪˈvɜːrsɪti/noun
The state of being diverse; variety.
Genetic/dʒəˈnɛtɪk/adjective
Relating to genes or heredity.
Comparison/kəmˈpærɪsən/noun
The act of comparing; the state of being compared.
Fossil/ˈfɑːsəl/noun
The remains or impression of a prehistoric organism preserved in petrified form or as a mold or cast in rock.
Population/ˌpɒpjuˈleɪʃən/noun
All the inhabitants of a particular town area or country.
Vocabulary Learning

How much do you know?

What are some possible reasons for the extinction of Neanderthals according to scientists?
Climate change
Conflicts with modern humans
Lack of genetic variety
All of the above
When did the drop in genetic diversity of Neanderthals occur as mentioned in the study?
Around 100,000 years ago
Around 40,000 years ago
Around 50,000 years ago
Around 10,000 years ago
Which method did researchers use to find clues about Neanderthals?
Ear canal shapes
Fingerprints
DNA sequencing
Hair samples
Where did the study focus on fossils of Neanderthals and modern humans?
Croatia and France
Italy and Spain
Germany and Sweden
Japan and Australia
What do researchers want to do to learn more about Neanderthals?
Study more fossils
Study modern humans
Build a time machine
Forget about Neanderthals
Which journal published the findings of the researchers?
Nature Communications
Science Daily
National Geographic
Journal of Archaeology
Neanderthals had enough genetic variety to survive.
The study focused on genetic diversity in Neanderthal ear canal shapes.
The extinction of Neanderthals occurred around 40,000 years ago.
The researchers are not interested in studying more fossils of Neanderthals.
Climate change is not considered as a possible reason for Neanderthals' extinction.
The drop in Neanderthals' population occurred around 10,000 years ago.
The big drop in Neanderthals' genetic diversity happened before they disappeared around years ago.
Researchers used ear canal shapes and Neanderthal genetics to find clues about the lack of genetic variety approximately years ago.
The study focused on fossils from places like and France.
Factors like climate change and competition could be reasons for the big drop in Neanderthals' .
The researchers want to look at more fossils to learn more about .
The findings of the researchers are published in the journal .
This question is required

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