DNA Uncovers the Moment Humans Merged with Neanderthals

The initial foray of modern Homo sapiens from Africa was not merely a venture into new territories but rather a pursuit following in the precedent of another human species that had previously undertaken this audacious journey.

Ultimately, our intrepid ancestors encountered their Neanderthal relatives, engaging in interactions that transcended mere acquaintance.

A recent genetic analysis of the earliest known remains of modern humans uncovered in Ranis, Germany, and Zlatý k??, Czech Republic, indicates that emigrant Homo sapiens and Homo neanderthalensis intermingled between 45,000 and 49,000 years ago. This research, conducted by Max Planck Institute anthropologist Arev Sümer and an international consortium, provides more recent estimates than those put forth in prior studies.

In contemporary terms, all humans, aside from those exclusively of African descent, exhibit the genetic imprints of these ancient unions within their DNA. The study suggests that this genetic interchange occurred approximately 80 generations prior to the births of the individuals analyzed, supporting previous hypotheses that such interactions likely transpired multiple times.

The researchers elucidate, “Our analyses indicate that the Zlatý k??/Ranis population diverged early from the lineage of other non-African groups, leaving no direct descendants among modern populations.”

Furthermore, they posit that the Neanderthal genetic contributions carried by these early modern humans might have originated from separate occurrences distinct from those that contributed to the Neanderthal DNA found in present-day non-African populations.

The genomic analysis of six individuals from Ranis, dating back approximately 45,000 years, revealed a surprising genetic kinship between Zlatý k?? and two Ranis individuals, suggesting they were part of an extended familial network and likely engaged in similar tool-making practices.

These genomic revelations afford profound insights into the earliest pioneers who settled in Europe, intimating that any modern human remains older than 50,000 years discovered outside Africa could not conceivably belong to the shared ancestry that interbred with Neanderthals, which is now prevalent across vast areas of the globe.

Additionally, a second study analyzing 300 human genomes from the last 50,000 years indicates that the majority of our Neanderthal genetic heritage was integrated during a significant period between 50,500 and 43,500 years ago, potentially involving a distinct migratory wave inclusive of our direct ancestors.

These findings, disseminated in esteemed journals Nature and Science, constitute a pivotal advancement in the understanding of our species’ complex history.