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Something Bad Happened to Neanderthals 110,000 Years Ago—and It May Have Sealed Their Fate
The Mysterious Demise of the Neanderthals
DNA studies have long indicated that Neanderthals experienced a steep decline in genetic diversity approximately 110,000 years ago, which seemed to foreshadow their eventual extinction. A recent study has shed new light on this phenomenon, revealing that Neanderthals may have undergone a population bottleneck, a significant loss of genetic diversity that could have sealed their fate.
Uncovering the Secrets of the Neanderthals’ Demise
Researchers from the Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, led by paleontologist Alessandro Urciuoli, analyzed the semicircular ear canals of Neanderthals across different time periods to detect changes in genetic diversity. Their study, published in the journal Nature Communications, confirms the existence of a bottleneck event, which did not immediately result in the extinction of Neanderthals but may have set them on a path that ultimately led to their demise.
A Funneling of Genetic Diversity
The study revealed that the morphological diversity of classic Neanderthals’ semicircular canals was significantly lower than that of their ancestors. This is consistent with previous DNA studies indicating a substantial loss of genetic variation between early and classic Neanderthals. The findings suggest that the population bottleneck was a crucial event that likely reduced the Neanderthals’ ability to adapt and respond to changing environments.
The Unexpected Discovery
A surprising aspect of the study was the discovery that the pre-Neanderthals, the earliest known Neanderthals, exhibited a level of morphological diversity similar to that of the early Neanderthals. This challenges the assumption of a bottleneck event at the origin of the Neanderthal lineage, leading to further questions about the demographics of early Neanderthals and their possible interactions with our species.
The Evolution of Neanderthals: A Tale of Woe and Extinction
Neanderthals, it seems, were a victim of their own genetic shortcomings. The study’s findings provide insight into the demographic evolution of our ancient relatives, whose genetic legacy still lingers in modern humans today. The population bottleneck event, which occurred 110,000 years ago, may have made Neanderthals more vulnerable to the stresses of their environment and less able to adapt to change. It took time for Neanderthals to eventually succumb to extinction, but the new study suggests that this event may have sealed their ultimate fate.
Was It the Beginning of the End?
The study does not specify a cause for the Neanderthal population crash, but the lower genetic diversity likely made them more susceptible to ongoing stressors and less able to adapt from an evolutionary perspective. The findings imply that the 110,000-year-old population bottleneck may have been the precursor to the eventual extinction of Neanderthals.
Conclusion
The study of the Neanderthals’ demise is a complex and multifaceted one. While the exact reasons behind their extinction remain unclear, the present research contributes to our understanding of the demographic evolution of our ancient relatives. As we continue to unravel the mysteries of the past, we may uncover more clues about the Neanderthals’ fate, and possibly, the secrets to their ultimate disappearance.
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