Summary
Recent DNA analysis of the toe bone of a neanderthal woman estimated to have lived around 50,000 years in a Siberian cave ago shows that her parents were very closely related. The prevalence of inbreeding amongst neanderthals suggests that they lived in many fragmented groups. This reduced genetic diversity, combined with an already low population, could have helped lead to the extinction of the neanderthals.
Relevance
This relates to our recent units because it highlights the importance of genetic diversity in the survival of a species. Should the findings prove to be accurate, then it could shed light on just how important it is for a species to maintain high levels of genetic diversity, and not to live in fragmented populations as the neanderthals did.
Citation
Author: Dani Cooper
Published: December 19th, 2013
Link: http://www.abc.net.au/science/articles/2013/12/19/3914544.htm
Is there evidence of an event that caused Neanderthals to go extinct? A spread of a disease or a geological event?
ReplyDeleteWhile we are not certain as to why Neanderthals went extinct, we suspect that homo sapiens may have played a role, whether by out-competing the Neanderthals or by spreading pathogens which were deadly to the Neanderthals.
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