Neanderthal-Human Romance: Women Preferred Neanderthal Guys

0:00Scientists just dropped a bombshow on ancient hookups between the Andertals and early modern humans. A new study shows Neanderthals carry way more DNA from us on their X chromosomes than the reverse. That means modern human women, likely paired up with Neanderthal guys, far more often than the other way around, creating this lopsided genetic mix, tens, of thousands of years ago. The research, out in February in the journal Science, looked at genomes from both sides and found this pattern holds even in non-essential spots. It flips old ideas. No sign that Neanderthal genes on our X chromosomes were a survival drag or hurt reproduction. Folks are buzzing because it paints a clearer picture of these interspecies romances without the usual biases from just peeking at our own DNA. Experts like the studies authors say we can only guess at the social vibes back then. Maybe Neanderthal dudes had that rugged appeal. One hitch is the skimpy supply of Neanderthal bones with usable DNA, since soft tissues don't

1:00fossilize well. But as digs uncover more samples, we'll sharpen this story big time. By flipping the script to study Neanderthal genes directly, we're getting a fuller beat on how these ancient crews blended, rewriting our family tree, one chromosome at a time. I'm Corey with the story, and you've been listening to Canada News Today, AI-powered local news.