Research: what Neanderthals inherited in us enlarges muscles, hips and rear

Signs of these encounters can still be seen in the heritage and appearance of modern people.

Recent research has now found several features related to the body and appearance in humans, which are linked to genetic forms inherited from Neanderthals.

For example, those who carry these gene forms have a slightly faster muscle growth than others.

Neanderthal man were slimmer in body shape than modern humans and stronger in facial features.

The researchers wanted to find out if these traits would be seen in people carrying Neanderthal genes.

The researchers learned about the so-called hypothalamus–pituitary–somatotropin axis, which regulates growth and skeletal development.

Some people have gene mutations in the growth hormone receptor that is part of the system. These modifications are inherited from Neanderthals.

The researchers analyzed large genetic data, and the Finns’ inheritance from the extensive Finngen data was included. In addition, they studied the genes of, for example, British and Japanese people.

Research so looked at the growth hormone receptor. Those who carried Neanderthal genes in it had certain features in their appearance.

First of all, they are slightly longer and heavier compared to others.

The heaviness is almost exclusively due to greater muscle mass. In addition, carriers of the genetic form have slightly wider hips and a larger rear.

Differences were also found in facial features.

Neanderthals are more likely to have a shorter mandibular ramus, which is the vertical part of the mandible. Those with a genetic predisposition have a tendency to overbite. Their tooth roots are also shorter.

Of modern people according to the researchers, the populations clearly differ in whether they have Neanderthal gene forms in their growth hormone receptor.

Europeans have quite a few of these gene forms, as only about 0.5 percent of people carry them. For Americans, the corresponding figure is about two percent.

In East Asia, the prevalence is already significantly higher, as about 15 percent of the population carries genes inherited from Neanderthals.

In South Asia, the prevalence of gene forms affecting growth and bone was the highest, and they were carried by approximately 20 percent of the population.

Typical other traits inherited from Neanderthals are accentuated frontal ridges, a hump on the back of the head and a slightly slanted forehead.

However, these features had no connection with the gene form inherited from Neanderthals in the growth hormone receptor.

Africans living south of the Sahara have no Neanderthal heritage at all. In ancient times, their ancestors had no contact with the Neanderthals who lived further north.

In all of them in people of non-African origin, there is about two percent of Neanderthal DNA among the entire genome.

Research was published in the journal Current Biology.

Correction August 13 at 9:30 p.m.: The study was published in the journal Current Biology, not in the journal Cell. Fixed the same error in the summary as well.