Some of the last surviving Neanderthals were remarkably diverse — suggesting inbreeding didn't doom them - Live Science
A new study of ancient DNA suggests that late-surviving Neanderthals in northwestern Europe were more genetically diverse than previously believed. This finding challenges the long-standing theory that inbreeding was the primary driver of their extinction.
Why it matters
This research shifts the scientific understanding of human evolution and the factors that led to the disappearance of our closest extinct relatives.
Some Neanderthals living in northwestern Europe after 52,500 years ago were surprisingly diverse, suggesting that they didn't all go extinct due to inbreeding.
The article summarizes scientific findings from a peer-reviewed journal without political or social bias.
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