News Genetics

A new genetic analysis reveals that modern Africans have some Neandertal DNA too

Humans migrating back to Africa brought extinct relatives’ genetic material along for the ride

Homo sapiens and Neandertal skulls

Ancient Europeans, represented by a roughly 30,000-year-old French Homo sapiens skull shown at left, interbred with Neandertals, represented by a 70,000- to 50,000-year-old French skull on the right, before spreading Neandertal genes into Africa, a new study finds.

From left: The Natural History Museum/Alamy Stock Photo; Sabena Jane Blackbird/Alamy Stock Photo

By Bruce Bower

- More than 2 years ago

Africans today possess more Neandertal ancestry than previously thought, a new analysis shows, though still not as much as most people outside of Africa.