Researchers have discovered that a gene from the Neanderthal is carried by one in three European women to ensure the good health of the newborn.
- Neanderthals died out 30 to 40,000 years ago.
- Our progesterone receptor comes from the Neanderthals and ensures the good health of children.
In recent years, several studies have come to detail the influence of our ancestors on our body. In 2017, two studies concluded that between 1 and 5% of our DNA comes from Neanderthals. A legacy that is not necessarily positive since our genes associated with depression and addiction would come to us from Neanderthal Man, who died out 30 to 40,000 years ago. Another example of the influence of this ancestor, the color of the skin or even the hair would come from the genes of this ancient man.
A progesterone receptor
A new study, conducted by German researchers from the Max Planck Institute and published in the Molecular Biology and Evolution of Oxford, has discovered that a third of European women have a gene from the Neanderthal which allows it to ensure the good health of babies. More specifically, this inheritance is materialized by a progesterone receptor, the presence of which greatly increases the probability of experiencing multiple and fertile pregnancies. “The progesterone receptor is an example of how positive genetic variants introduced into modern humans, intermingling with Neanderthals, can impact people’s contemporary lives.”, rejoices Hugo Zeberg, researcher at the Karolinska Institute, in Sweden.
Last year, the Max Planck Institute made another discovery, reported by the journal New Scientist, confirming the presence of modern humans in Europe at least 45,000 years ago and their cohabitation with Neanderthals, whom they taught, among other things, to create necklaces with bear teeth. The Neanderthals”have become more creative with their tools over their last millennia” in contact with modern man, write the researchers.
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