
According to a study published in the journal Genome Biology and Evolution, Neanderthal DNA may have contributed to some people’s tendency to be early risers. The study suggests that Neanderthals and Denisovans passed on DNA that increased morningness, and that this DNA has been retained in modern human populations.
The study found that introgressed genetic variants from Neanderthals were consistently linked to increased morningness. The study involved hundreds of thousands of individuals from the UK Biobank.
The study suggests that Neanderthals and Denisovans evolved these mutations by living in colder, darker environments for longer than our direct ancestors.
Some studies have suggested that certain genetic variations inherited from archaic humans may play roles in other characteristics in modern humans, including:
- Hair texture
- Height
- Sensitivity of the sense of smell
- Immune responses
- Adaptations to high altitude
A new paper in the journal Genome Biology and Evolution, published by Oxford University Press, finds that genetic material from Neanderthal ancestors may have contributed to the propensity of some people today to be “early risers,” the sort of people who are more comfortable getting up and going to bed earlier
A study published in Genome Biology and Evolution found that Neanderthal DNA may contribute to some people’s tendency to be early risers.
Researchers compared DNA from Neanderthal fossils and modern humans, and found some of the same genetic variants involved with the circadian rhythm. They also found that modern humans who carry these variants also reported being early risers.
The researchers found that many of the Neanderthal DNA fragments that remain in modern human genomes affect the control of circadian genes. These effects are predominantly in a consistent direction of increasing the propensity to be a morning person.
Neanderthal-inherited genetic material is found in all non-Sub Saharan African populations, and was initially reported to comprise 1 to 4 percent of the genome. This fraction was refined to 1.5 to 2.1 percent.
For the new study, researchers compared DNA from today’s humans and DNA from Neanderthal fossils. In both groups, they found some of the same genetic variants involved with the circadian rhythm. And they found that modern humans who carry these variants also reported being early risers
Neanderthal DNA may contribute to a number of traits, including:
- Physical traits: Neanderthal DNA may contribute to physical traits like:
- Occipital bun
- Elongated skulls
- Space behind wisdom teeth
- Heavy brow ridge
- Broad or projected nose
- Small chin
- Rosy cheeks
- Wide finger bones
- Thick, straight hair
- Red hair and freckles
- Insulating skin
- Immune system function: Neanderthal DNA may contribute to the functioning of the immune system.
- Skin and hair characteristics: Neanderthal DNA may contribute to hair color, tendency toward baldness, and the skin’s capacity to tan.
- Certain aspects of metabolism: Neanderthal DNA may contribute to certain aspects of metabolism.
- Disease traits: Neanderthal DNA may influence disease traits such as immunity and neurological traits.
- Non-disease phenotypes: Neanderthal DNA may affect non-disease phenotypes such as skin morphology, skin, and hair-related phenotypes, or behavioral phenotypes.
Neanderthal DNA may also contribute to sleep patterns, smoking habits, and alcohol consumption
Neanderthal DNA is believed to contribute to certain traits in modern humans, including:
- Immune response Neanderthal genes may be associated with increased risk for certain diseases, such as lupus, type 2 diabetes, and Crohn’s disease.
- Skin color and hair texture Neanderthal genes are believed to contribute to certain genetic traits in modern humans, including some relating to skin color and hair texture.
- Bone density, menopause age, and lung capacity Neanderthal variants contribute more-than-expected to several traits, including bone density, menopause age, and lung capacity.
Neanderthal DNA is believed to be a result of interbreeding between ancient humans and Neanderthals some 50,000 years ago
On average, a single human has around 2% Neanderthal DNA. However, the percentage of Neanderthal DNA in modern humans can vary depending on the region and background of the individual’s ancestors. For example, people from African populations have zero or close to zero Neanderthal DNA, while people of European or Asian background have about 1 to 2 percent.
In total, at least 20%, and perhaps as much as 40% of the Neanderthal genome could be recovered from modern human populations. However, there are some regions of the human genome that are almost completely devoid of Neanderthal genes. These include regions associated with male fertility
Some say that modern humans are more intelligent than Neanderthals, but others say that there’s no evidence to support this.
Here’s some related information about Neanderthals and modern humans:
- Neanderthals Neanderthals were Stone Age hominins who lived in Europe and parts of Asia before going extinct about 40,000 years ago. They were intelligent and accomplished humans, and were able to make and use fire. However, some say that Neanderthals had larger brains, but the extra brain was dedicated to processing scent and visual information, and motor control.
- Modern humans Modern humans have a mutation that boosts the growth of neurons in the neocortex, a brain region associated with higher intelligence. This mutation is absent in Neanderthals. Some say that these differences led to more organized, smarter brains that allowed modern humans to outlast the Neanderthals
According to a 2022 study, a single amino acid change in a metabolic gene helps modern humans develop more neurons than other mammals and Neanderthals. The study suggests that modern humans produce more neurons in the neocortex during fetal development, particularly in the frontal lobe.
Neanderthals and ancient humans had brains that were roughly the same volume, around 90 cubic inches. However, Neanderthals had larger brains than modern humans, but in proportion to their body size. The average Neanderthal brain volume is roughly 1410 cm3, which is higher than the mean value for humans today. However, all the Neanderthals that have been measured fall within the range of living people
According to some studies, Neanderthals and modern humans have similar brain development. However, other studies suggest that Neanderthals and modern humans develop their brains differently.
Here’s some related information about Neanderthals and modern humans:
- Brain size Neanderthals and modern humans have brains that are roughly the same size. However, Neanderthals have elongated brain cases, while modern humans have more globular brain cases.
- Brain development Both Neanderthals and modern humans have elongated brain cases at birth. However, only modern humans develop more globular brain cases in the first year of life.
- Brain shape Brain shape evolved gradually within the H. sapiens lineage, reaching present-day human variation between about 100,000 and 35,000 years ago.
- Brain development after birth Neanderthals and modern humans reach large adult brain sizes via different developmental pathways.
- Neocortex Fossil records suggest that human and Neanderthal brains were roughly the same size, meaning that the neocortices of modern humans are either denser or take up a larger portion of the brain.
Modern humans have larger brains than their ancestors, and their brains have a different shape:
- Brain size Modern humans have an average brain size of about 1400 cubic centimeters, which is almost double the size of early Homo habilis and almost three times the size of early australopithecines.
- Brain shape Modern humans have large, globular brains, which distinguish them from their extinct Homo relatives. Neanderthals had elongated brain cases, while modern humans have more globular brain cases.
- Brain development Modern humans and Neanderthals reach large brain sizes along different evolutionary pathways. From birth to age 6, the human brain increases in size by four-fold, reaching 90% of adult volume.
The human brain has increased in size compared to the body over the course of human evolution. This process is called encephalization.
The human brain has grown from about 350 grams to more than 1,300 grams since the emergence of Homo sapiens about 200,000 years ago. This is almost a quadrupling of the brain size that primates had attained over the previous 60 million years.
The brain’s expansion is one of the most significant changes in human evolution. Some theories about why the human brain increased in size include:
- Deep sleep The ability to go into deep sleep helps retain important memories and stimulates brain growth.
- Tools The ability to use flaked tools to cut, cook, and eat food high in protein and fat.
- Language The way ancient people had to learn a language to communicate.
- Social brain The brain’s evolution occurred because our communities grew larger and we needed more complex brains to keep up with the number of interpersonal relationships.
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I have no doubt DNA was passed down for many traits, but I am not so sure about “morningness.” I used to be a late riser, then later in life an early riser, and now I seem to be going back to a late riser. It’s anecdotal, I know. Interesting post.
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Thanks 🙏 actually that dna 🧬 is there but we humans develop and evolve accordingly to our habbits that can be changed🙏
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Yes, my habits have changed over time. Thank you, Satyam.
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Definitely a great change freind keep shining keep rising 🌹
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