Neanderthal Ancestry

Neanderthal ancestry refers to the small percentage of DNA inherited by most modern humans from Neanderthals, a human species that lived in Europe and Asia until about 40,000 years ago. When early humans migrated out of Africa, they interbred with Neanderthals, passing on some of their genetic material. Today, this Neanderthal DNA influences various traits in us, such as immune responses and skin pigmentation. On average, about 1-2% of the DNA in non-African populations comes from Neanderthals, highlighting our shared evolutionary history and ancient interactions.