red hair neanderthal image
Rudy
If Neanderthals overpowered humans and they did not go extinct and continued to evolve, how would it function, look, and would it be smarter then us?
Also, if we were to breed humans that shared genetic code could we create a neanderthal hybrid offspring?
Answer
It's impossible to know, since it didn't happen, but it's thought that Neanderthals would have been of stockier build, would have had red hair, and would have spoken with more nasally voices. Otherwise, they were pretty comparable to archaic homo sapiens sapiens, and had they survived instead of modern humans, they probably would have evolved pretty comparably.
The notion that Neanderthals were "smarter" than us is a bit of a misunderstanding, actually. Neanderthals had a slightly higher cranial capacity than Homo sapiens sapiens, but this would not have made them "smarter" necessarily. Size alone does not account for cognitive ability. Einstein, for instance, had an average-sized cranial capacity. Artifactual evidence suggests if anything that Neanderthals were less adept at making tools than homo sapiens sapiens, as their tools tended to be less well-developed and as they never managed to create the atlatl, or spear thrower, which would have allowed them to hunt game from far away. As it was, Neanderthals had to come close up to animals if they wanted to hunt, which resulted in a lot of fractures and possibly deaths.
As to the question of genetics:
It's probable that Neanderthals and Homo sapiens sapiens had the biological ability to interbreed. The taxonomy, however, is under debate. Some scientists feel that Neanderthals represent a separate species of the genus Homo, others label Neanderthals only a subspecies of Homo Sapiens, and still others claim that Neanderthals represent only local variations on Homo Sapiens. There is some evidence of interbreeding, but none of it is fool proof. There are several skeletons that appear to have traits from both Homo sapiens and Neanderthals, but there is always variation within a species and phenotype is not proof of genotype. More persuasively, however, the Neanderthal genome has been mapped within the last two years or so and does show that European and Asian populations do share some DNA with Neanderthals. It's thought that this is because Neanderthals and homo sapiens interbred when both (sub)species inhabited the Middle East area. However, it's possible that the shared DNA just represents the shared ancestry that Neanderthals and Homo Sapiens had.
It's impossible to know, since it didn't happen, but it's thought that Neanderthals would have been of stockier build, would have had red hair, and would have spoken with more nasally voices. Otherwise, they were pretty comparable to archaic homo sapiens sapiens, and had they survived instead of modern humans, they probably would have evolved pretty comparably.
The notion that Neanderthals were "smarter" than us is a bit of a misunderstanding, actually. Neanderthals had a slightly higher cranial capacity than Homo sapiens sapiens, but this would not have made them "smarter" necessarily. Size alone does not account for cognitive ability. Einstein, for instance, had an average-sized cranial capacity. Artifactual evidence suggests if anything that Neanderthals were less adept at making tools than homo sapiens sapiens, as their tools tended to be less well-developed and as they never managed to create the atlatl, or spear thrower, which would have allowed them to hunt game from far away. As it was, Neanderthals had to come close up to animals if they wanted to hunt, which resulted in a lot of fractures and possibly deaths.
As to the question of genetics:
It's probable that Neanderthals and Homo sapiens sapiens had the biological ability to interbreed. The taxonomy, however, is under debate. Some scientists feel that Neanderthals represent a separate species of the genus Homo, others label Neanderthals only a subspecies of Homo Sapiens, and still others claim that Neanderthals represent only local variations on Homo Sapiens. There is some evidence of interbreeding, but none of it is fool proof. There are several skeletons that appear to have traits from both Homo sapiens and Neanderthals, but there is always variation within a species and phenotype is not proof of genotype. More persuasively, however, the Neanderthal genome has been mapped within the last two years or so and does show that European and Asian populations do share some DNA with Neanderthals. It's thought that this is because Neanderthals and homo sapiens interbred when both (sub)species inhabited the Middle East area. However, it's possible that the shared DNA just represents the shared ancestry that Neanderthals and Homo Sapiens had.
How does hair work in human genetics?
lovelyange
If someone in your family(grandfather, aunt) has straight hair, can it come back through the children like, say blue eyes, or must one of the parents have straight hair in order for it to show in the offspring?
Answer
Basically, the closer the family to you, the more likely you are to get there traits. (ex. your more likely to get black hair from your father, then you are blonde from your grandfather.)
Although rogue, infrequent DNA can resurface from your ancestors for as far back as 1000 years.
Here's an example of that: Everyone who's family can be traced out of Africa can share up to 5% of their DNA with Neanderthals. To put that in perspective, that's about the same you get from your Great-great-great-grandfather (or great-great, can never remember!)) Neanderthals had red hair by the way (RED not ginger), it's a common theory that red-heads have more Neanderthal DNA then that of people with hair of other shades. Amazing right :'D
Basically, the closer the family to you, the more likely you are to get there traits. (ex. your more likely to get black hair from your father, then you are blonde from your grandfather.)
Although rogue, infrequent DNA can resurface from your ancestors for as far back as 1000 years.
Here's an example of that: Everyone who's family can be traced out of Africa can share up to 5% of their DNA with Neanderthals. To put that in perspective, that's about the same you get from your Great-great-great-grandfather (or great-great, can never remember!)) Neanderthals had red hair by the way (RED not ginger), it's a common theory that red-heads have more Neanderthal DNA then that of people with hair of other shades. Amazing right :'D
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Title Post: How would Neanderthals evolved if they did not go extinct?
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Rating: 92% based on 976 ratings. 5 user reviews.
Author: Yukie
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