18 Signs That May Indicate You Have Neanderthal Genes

According to statistics, between 1% and 4% of the genome of any person of non-African origin is inherited from Neanderthals. This type of gene is slightly more present in Asians compared to Europeans. The discovery was considered very important by the scientific community, as it was previously believed that individuals homo sapiens and Neanderthals (two different species), despite having coexisted at the same time, did not have sexual relations with each other. However, the presence of Neanderthal genes in people today proves otherwise. And we have to admit that this is extremely intriguing.

O awesome.club became interested in the subject and discovered the main characteristics that may indicate the presence of Neanderthals among their ancestors. The complete list of what we inherit from this human species can be found in an article by a group of American researchers.

Caveat: Signs can also appear due to random mutations or other reasons.

Excessive blood clotting. People who have the gene are at increased risk of stroke, blood clots and miscarriage. But in the past, such a condition was very useful: our ancestors lived in dangerous conditions and were often injured. Fortunately, the wounds healed quickly.

Predisposition to the appearance of warts

Clear Skin. Neanderthals reached the north of the planet before the homo sapiens and soon adapted to the new environment. already the homo sapiens, upon arriving in the region, he “borrowed” the genes responsible for skin color. Therefore, our entire appearance, including our skin’s ability to tan, is a heritage left by our ancestors.

Predisposition to work at night and sleep during the day.

Unlikely to get lupus erythematosus.

Easy adaptation to live at high altitudes. If you feel good in high regions, you may be a carrier of the Neanderthal version of the EPAS1 gene. It is common among natives of Tibet and other mountainous regions.

Tendency to depression. When the number of Neanderthal genomes exceeds 2%, a person is more likely to suffer from mental disorders and mood swings.

Physical dependence on nicotine. It is important to understand that Neanderthals only smoked one kind of cigar. Simply, the genes selected by evolution worked in that environment, and now we live in completely different conditions. Therefore, some anomalies in ancient genetic mechanisms may arise.

Freckles and red hair.

High probability of heart attack. Just 1.4% of the Neanderthal genome is enough to increase the chances of having a heart attack.

Digestive disorders. In Neanderthals, the carbohydrate digestion mechanism was slow and deficient, as they mainly ate nuts and meat — that is, a lot of protein. Today’s man ingests a lot of carbohydrates. Therefore, people whose digestion follows ancient genetic instructions often suffer from digestive disorders.

Sensitive sense of smell.

Lactose intolerance. The Neanderthal lacked the LCT gene, responsible for the correct digestion of lactose. However, this is not exactly a surprise, as the gene only emerged after the domestication of cattle, about 10,000 years ago. And Neanderthals had already disappeared from the face of the Earth 30,000 years earlier.

Allergic reactions. Our immune system protects the body from harmful bacteria, parasites and fungi. Some of these mechanisms are controlled by archaic genes. In prehistory, they were extremely useful and allowed people to survive, but under current conditions, they tend to fail and react to incorrect stimuli. As a result, many people (especially those who live in developed countries and who do not have much contact with parasites) experience allergy symptoms to a wide variety of substances.

Bladder disorders. It usually affects people with Parkinson’s disease.

Low chance of developing schizophrenia.

Propensity to obesity. Neanderthals needed to eat very often and digest food efficiently, as they were always at risk of starvation. In the civilized world, such a problem does not exist, so the person who has inherited these genes is likely to have a high tendency to be overweight.

Strong hair and nails, plus elastic skin, thanks to keratin, which Neanderthals synthesized quickly and efficiently.

Do you have any of the characteristics mentioned above? Did you know that part of the current population still carries Neanderthal genes? Comment!