Humans Got Skin Genes From Neanderthals

Unless you’re African, your skin probably carries traces of your Neanderthal forebears. According to new research, our ancient human ancestors acquired some skin genes that helped them survive outside Africa by mating with Neanderthals. When humans wandered out of Africa and into Europe and Asia around a hundred thousand years ago, our closest hominid relatives, the Neanderthals, had already been there. “So, of course, there’s always been the possibility that they would have met and...

© La Voix de l'Amérique - mercredi 29 janvier 2014