Neanderthal DNA in the World
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Neanderthal DNA—the genetic material of Neanderthals—is a small fraction of the DNA found in modern humans (Homo sapiens) originating from Africa. Neanderthals were an early human species that lived in Europe and western Asia, believed to have disappeared approximately 40,000 years ago. Before their disappearance, they interbred with Homo sapiens populations from Africa.
The result is that present-day people in Europe, Asia, the Americas, and Oceania carry small amounts of Neanderthal DNA. The proportion is generally estimated at roughly one to two percent. Peoples whose ancestry traces to sub-Saharan Africa south of the Sahara carry very little or undetectable amounts, mostly due to limited back-migration.
Research Methods
Research is based on ancient DNA extracted from Neanderthal bones and teeth found in sites across Europe and Asia. Research groups led by Svante Pääbo sequenced the Neanderthal genome, with initial findings published in 2010. When compared to modern human DNA, portions appear identical and can only be explained by shared common ancestry in the distant past.
Health Effects
Some Neanderthal genetic variants are linked to immune system function, hair and skin pigmentation, and how the body responds to inflammation. Other studies have associated certain variants with increased risk for specific diseases, but most such associations are correlational and do not demonstrate direct causation. Overall, the contribution to an individual's genetics is small.