Neanderthal genes shape modern european phenotypes after all
Quote:
Here, using MRI in a large cohort of healthy individuals of European-descent, we show that the amount
of Neanderthal-originating polymorphism carried in living humans is related to cranial and brain
morphology. First, as a validation of our approach, we demonstrate that a greater load of Neanderthal-
derived genetic variants (higher “NeanderScore”) is associated with skull shapes resembling those of
known Neanderthal cranial remains, particularly in occipital and parietal bones. Next, we demonstrate
convergent NeanderScore-related findings in the brain (measured by gray- and white-matter volume,
sulcal depth, and gyrification index) that localize to the visual cortex and intraparietal sulcus. This work
provides insights into ancestral human neurobiology and suggests that Neanderthal-derived genetic
variation is neurologically functional in the contemporary population.
Quote:
This finding provides crucial validation of the NeanderScore measurement and suggests that even
in the context of the modern H. sapiens genome, Neanderthal genetic variation is associated with patterns of skull
dimensions that mirror known Neanderthal phenotypes.
https://www.nature.com/articles/s41598-017-06587-0.pdf
