Fossil skulls found in Israel might be signs of gene flow from Neanderthals to modern humans
Neanderthal population sizes were about 20% lower than previously thought and modern human DNA may have made up between 2.5% and 3.7% of their genome
Neanderthals originated in Africa about 600,00 years ago and interbred with modern humans twice: once around 250,ooo to 2oo,ooo years ago and once around 1oo,ooo to 12o,ooo years ago
New research suggests interconnected evolutionary history between Neanderthals and modern humans
Several studies indicate modern humans left Africa around 250,000 years ago and their DNA is found in Neanderthals
A new body of research suggests that the relationship between Neanderthals and modern humans may be more interconnected than previously thought. Several studies indicate that several waves of modern humans began leaving Africa around 250,000 years ago, and evidence of these early migrations can be found in the DNA of Neanderthals.
Neanderthals are believed to have originated in Africa about 600,00 years ago before moving into Europe and Asia. A recent study published in Science proposes that there were two distinct epochs of gene flow from modern humans to Neanderthals: one around 200,00 to 250,ooo years ago and the other around 1oo,ooo to 12o,ooo years ago.
Another study published in the journal Current Biology found that Neanderthal population sizes were about 20% lower than previously thought. This research also suggests that modern human DNA may have made up between 2.5% and 3.7% of the Neanderthal genome.
Fossil skulls found in Israel around the same time as one of the major interbreeding events identified in these studies might be signs of gene flow from Neanderthals to modern humans.
These findings challenge our understanding of human evolution and highlight that what was once thought to be separate lineages were actually more interconnected than previously believed.
Several new studies suggest that several waves of modern humans began leaving Africa around 250,000 years ago.
Scientists are discovering hints of those early waves in the DNA of Neanderthals.
The Neanderthal lineage most likely began in Africa about 600,000 years ago before moving into Europe and Asia.
Accuracy
Modern human DNA may have made up 2.5% to 3.7% of the Neanderthal genome.
Deception
(100%)
None Found At Time Of
Publication
Fallacies
(95%)
The author makes several statements that are supported by evidence and do not contain any logical fallacies. However, there is an instance of an appeal to authority when Sarah Tishkoff is quoted saying 'It wasn’t a single out-of-Africa migration. There have been lots of migrations out of Africa at different time periods.' This statement does not necessarily mean that the earlier migrations are fact, but rather her interpretation based on the evidence she and her colleagues have discovered. Therefore, I cannot give a perfect score as there is an appeal to authority present.
'It wasn’t a single out-of-Africa migration. There have been lots of migrations out of Africa at different time periods.' - Sarah Tishkoff
Neanderthals may not have truly gone extinct but instead may have been absorbed into the modern human population.
, Modern human DNA may have made up 2.5% to 3.7% of the Neanderthal genome.
Interbreeding between Neanderthals and humans led to offspring with a higher chance of possessing two different versions of each gene, known as heterozygosity.
Modern human DNA entered the Neanderthal genome during at least two distinct epochs: one about 200,000 to 250,00 years ago and the other about 1oo,ooo to 12o,ooo years ago.
Skulls found in Israel around the same time as one of the major interbreeding events identified in the study might be signs of gene flow from Neanderthals.
Accuracy
No Contradictions at Time
Of
Publication
Deception
(100%)
None Found At Time Of
Publication
Fallacies
(95%)
No blatant logical fallacies found in the article. However, there is an appeal to authority and a slightly misleading statement that could confuse readers. The appeal to authority comes from quoting Joshua Akey, the study senior author, who is presented as an expert on population genetics.
That's one of the implications of a new study, which finds modern human DNA may have made up 2.5% to 3.7% of the Neanderthal genome.
