New study reveals sharp decline in Neanderthal genetic and morphological diversity in evolutionary bottleneck
Analysis of the structure of Neanderthal semicircular canals reveals evidence of a “bottleneck” event – a process that led to a reduction in the physical and genetic diversity of the population. A new study, conducted by an international team including researchers from Binghamton University and the State University of New York, indicates a significant decline in the genetic diversity of Neanderthals over time, a process that may have contributed to their eventual extinction.
The research, in collaboration with Prof. Rolf Kvim and graduate student Brian Keeling, focused on examining morphological variation in the semicircular canals – internal structures essential for maintaining balance – by analyzing fossil finds from key areas such as the Ataforsa site in Spain and Krapina in Croatia, as well as from other locations in Europe and Western Asia.
"The development of the structure of the inner ear is under tight genetic control, as it is already complete at birth," said Kavim. "Therefore, the variation in the semicircular canals is an excellent indicator for understanding the evolutionary relationships between species, with any variation in the fossil record reflecting fundamental genetic differences. This approach constitutes a new tool for assessing genetic diversity in Neanderthal populations."
The findings indicate that the samples from the Ataforsa site, known as "pre-Neanderthals" and dated to about 400,000 years ago, are the ancestors of Neanderthals, who appeared about 250,000 years ago. In contrast, the site at Krapina - which contains the most complete collection of Neanderthal fossils - dates back to about 130,000 years ago. The authors calculated and compared the level of morphological diversity in the semicircular canals between the different samples, revealing that the diversity in classical Neanderthals is significantly lower than in pre-Neanderthals and early Neanderthals. These findings are consistent with results from ancient DNA analysis, which indicate a sharp decline in genetic diversity - a bottleneck event - that occurred about 110,000 years ago.
However, the study results raise questions about the commonly accepted assumption that the formation of the Neanderthal lineage occurred following a sharp decline in genetic diversity, and emphasize the need to propose new explanations for the group's origins.
"We were surprised to find that the pre-Neanderthals from the Sima de los Huesos site display a level of morphological diversity similar to that of the early Neanderthals from Carapina," said Orcioliu, the lead researcher. "This discovery challenges the conventional assumption of a bottleneck event at the beginning of the Neanderthal lineage."
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Dan Atzmon, Neanderthals became extinct about 30 years ago. We all carry their remains in our genome – both Ashkenazi and Mizrahi, so there is no basis for your political claims.
According to senior political sources, the Mizrahi who have been oppressed here all these years are the descendants of Neanderthals. The same senior political source who serves as Prime Minister uses Amsalem, Miri Regev and Aryeh Deri as Neanderthals, assigns them work and responsibility and will eventually throw them under the bus of the Homo sapiens - Levin, Kish and Barkat.
Nonsense about the kilo.
What nonsense. They are still among us today, voting for Bibi, swearing and stabbing.
New research has determined no
Believing in new research…