Is it possible that some modern day humans have Neanderthal ancestry?

Question

I have read that it has been shown that Homo sapiens sapiens and Homo sapiens neaderthalis evolved from separate branches, and so modern day humans aren't descended from Neanderthals. However, believe it or not, I have seen some people who look a lot like Neanderthals. As a matter of fact, a guy I knew in high school automatically comes to mind. He had an overhanging brow, extremely high cheekbones, a small chin, a stocky body, and a distinctive gait. Is it possible that at some point Neanderthals interbred with Homo sapiens sapiens?

Answer 1

It's possible, but we can't prove it.  Some anthropologists suspect that populations in northern Europe did interbreed to a small extent.

There's no smoking gun evidence -- no Neanderthal mitochondria, no Neanderthal Y chromosome, in human beings that anyone's pointed to yet.

Your friend in high school might have a slight case of acromegaly, or a partial chromosomal duplication.  Or he might be descended from Neanderthals.  *shrug*

Answer 2

Yes , i agree with you . They always talk about how of a different specie we are from Homo Erectus who were the humans before us . they have different chromosome number and not 46 like us , but we always see people who look like them ; small forehead , wider nose and long slim legs . What you are saying with what i and other people saw proves that there is a bond between us , like marriage .

Answer 3

It is possible, but maybe not probable. There is research going on right now with Neanderthal DNA looking for a link but it hasn't been found yet. I think it is more likely that homo sapiens and Neanderthals have a common ancestor.

I have seen slim young men whose "gait" looks very similar to that of a chimpanzee too but most of us agree that homo sapiens and chimpanzees only have a common ancestor.

Answer 4

It is most certainly possible, but very difficult to prove definitively.

Answer 5

It's possible but very unlikely. So far the research into the Neanderthal genome hasn't shown any sign that this has occurred. It's possible that any little genetic interaction that might have occurred between modern humans and Neanderthals may not have survived the passage of time due to the very small populations of humans that would have interacted with them.

Answer 6

No because a Neanderthals and Homo Sapien Sapien hybrid would be infertile hence no further off spring.

its also very unlikely because Neanderthals were in Europe and Asia yet everyone worldwide shares 100% same gene

By the way they are called

Homo Neanderthalensis they are not part of Homo Sapien species