DNA
What is mtDNA and why is it important to the study of Neanderthals?
mtDNA stands for mitochondrial DNA and it is passed down on the maternal line. It was the first type of Neanderthal DNA to be studied and helped to confirm that Neanderthals are not direct ancestors of modern humans, but are closely related
What is dental calculus and how does it help us learn about Neanderthal diet?
Dental calculus is the hardened plaque on teeth that can preserve microfossils and bacterial genetics. It can reveal information about what Neanderthals ate.
What genetic trait did Neanderthals possess that was associated with light skin and red hair?
the MC1R gene
What is the estimated time of Neanderthal extinction?
27ka
When was mtDNA first studied in regards to Neanderthals?
1997
What foods did the Neanderthals from El Sidron, Spain primarily eat?
The Neanderthals from El Sidron, Spain primarily ate vegetables, cooked starchy foods, and possibly used yarrow and chamomile for medicine.
How did Neanderthals adapt to living in areas with limited sunlight?
Their skin became lighter to absorb what sunlight was available
Where was the "Lapedo Child" discovered and what is significant about this discovery?
Lagar Velho, Portugal, and it is a possible hybrid of Neanderthal and human.
What percentage of DNA do modern Europeans have from Neanderthals?
No more that 4-5%
What did the Neanderthals from Payre, France primarily eat?
The Neanderthals from Payre, France ate large animals, plants (such as underground starchy plants), and fast-moving small prey like birds and fish.
What physical feature did Neanderthals share with modern humans that was once thought to be uniquely human?
A hyoid bone, which is involved in speech!
When would interbreeding between Neanderthals and modern humans have occurred?
There is genome evidence of interbreeding with modern humans around 100,000 years ago
Why is most of the remaining DNA in human populations from Neanderthals in non-coding regions of the genome?
This suggests that Neanderthal coding DNA was "bad" for us and was weeded out by natural selection against Neanderthal DNA in modern populations. However, some high frequency alleles related to the immune system, hair/skin, and fertility are still present in modern humans.
What foods did the Neanderthals from Gibraltar consume?
The Neanderthals from Gibraltar consumed marine foods like monk seals, dolphin, and fish, as well as terrestrial foods like tortoise, rabbits, deer, rhino, and pine nuts.
What evidence suggests that Neanderthals had a similar range of hearing to modern humans?
Similarly structured ear ossicles
Did Neanderthals go extinct or merge with modern humans?
There is debate over whether Neanderthals went extinct in the way we assume or if there was more of a merging of species, similar to a dilution rather than an extinction. However, there is not a lot of evidence of hybrid fossils.
What is the FOXP2 gene and why is it significant in the study of Neanderthal DNA?
The FOXP2 gene is related to human language and the "AMHS form" of this gene is found in Neanderthals. This suggests that they may have had some form of proto-language, although it does not necessarily mean they could speak like modern humans.
What is the significance of the oral bacteria found in Neanderthal dental calculus?
The shifts in oral bacteria linked to meat eating can reveal the dietary habits of Neanderthals in different regions.
What gene is linked to coloration in Neanderthals?
MC1R- red hair and fair skin
What is the evidence for the relationship between modern humans and Neanderthals?
Mitochondrial DNA shows that modern humans and Neanderthals are sister taxa.