Recent research has reexamined this so-called bottleneck phenomenon by analyzing an unexpected feature: Neanderthal ears.
This genetic bottleneck (i.e.
The present study represents a novel approach to estimating genetic diversity within Neandertal populations.
A Neanderthal reconstruction in London’s Natural History Museum.© Neil Howard
The 400,000-year-old Atapuerca fossils, belonging to pre-Neanderthals (or proto-Neanderthals), were discovered in Spain.
The classic Neanderthal remains come from different regions and time periods.
However, the researchers also made an unexpected discovery.
This challenges the common assumption of a bottleneck event at the origin of the Neanderthal lineage.
Neanderthals went extinct around 40,000 years ago and for reasons that arent entirely clear.
That Neanderthals suffered from a lack of genetic diversity and low population sizes fits in with this latest finding.
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Now, scientists say it belonged to a Denisovan man.
The space agency is working to comply with an executive order targeting diversity and inclusion at federal agencies.
