News Genetics

Neandertal genes in people today came from hook-ups around 47,000 years ago

Two genetic analyses clarify when Neandertal genes infiltrated Homo sapiens DNA

an illustration of an ancient Homo sapiens woman. She is dark-skinned and appears draped with an animal pelt.

An early human woman known as Zlatý kůň (illustrated), whose remains were found in the Czech Republic, lived about 45,000 years ago. She is part of a small population of Homo sapiens whose ancestors mated with Neandertals around 80 generations before her.

Tom Björklund

By McKenzie Prillaman

The time frame in which Neandertals and Homo sapiens heavily intermingled just got a little clearer.