NEW YORK — Scientists announced recent findings indicating that Neanderthals and modern humans likely interbred around 45,000 years ago, a timeframe that is slightly more recent than what previous studies suggested.

Researchers utilized ancient genetic material to establish this timeline, shedding light on the complex interactions between these two groups. Modern humans began their journey in Africa many hundreds of thousands of years ago, eventually dispersing to Europe, Asia, and across the globe. Along this path, encounters with Neanderthals occurred, leaving an impact that continues to resonate in our DNA today.
While the exact circumstances of these interactions remain unclear, ongoing research utilizing ancient bone fragments and genetic data is gradually illuminating this history. “Genetic data from these samples really helps us paint a picture in more and more detail,” remarked Priya Moorjani, a co-author of the study hailing from the University of California, Berkeley.
The findings were published in the journals Science and Nature, contributing significantly to existing knowledge. In the pursuit of the timeline, researchers examined some of the earliest human genes collected from the remains of a woman known as Zlatý k??, or Golden Horse, discovered in the Czech Republic. They also analyzed bone fragments from an ancient human population located in Ranis, Germany, approximately 140 miles (230 kilometers) away. Together, these investigations yielded snippets of Neanderthal DNA, confirming that crossbreeding likely occurred around 45,000 years ago.
In an additional study, researchers traced the legacy of Neanderthal DNA in modern humans over the span of 50,000 years. They identified genetic markers pertaining to immunity and metabolism inherited from Neanderthals that may have played a crucial role in helping early humans adapt and thrive outside of Africa.
The genetic footprint of our Neanderthal ancestors still influences us today. Various distinguished traits related to skin and hair color, as well as features like nose shape, can be linked to this extinct lineage. Moreover, the genetic history also incorporates traces from another group known as the Denisovans.
Experts emphasize that ongoing genetic research has the potential to provide deeper insights into our ancestry. “One of the compelling areas of scientific investigation is: well, who are we?” noted Rick Potts, director of the Smithsonian’s Human Origins Program, who was not involved in this particular research.