ESPEYB20 12. The Year in Science and Medicine Genetics (5 abstracts)
12.4. Genetic insights into the social organization of Neanderthals
Skov L , Peyregne S , Popli D , Iasi LNM , Deviese T , Slon V , Zavala EI , Hajdinjak M , Sumer AP , Grote S , Bossoms Mesa A , Lopez Herraez D , Nickel B , Nagel S , Richter J , Essel E , Gansauge M , Schmidt A , Korlevic P , Comeskey D , Derevianko AP , Kharevich A , Markin SV , Talamo S , Douka K , Krajcarz MT , Roberts RG , Higham T , Viola B , Krivoshapkin AI , Kolobova KA , Kelso J , Meyer M , Paabo S & Peter BM
Nature 2022 Vol. 610 Issue 7932 Pages 519–525. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41586-022-05283-y
Brief summary: Genomic information (nuclear, Y-chromosome and mitochondrial DNA data) of 13 Neanderthals from two neighboring caves in Siberia have been analysed to infer their social community organization. The data show greater diversity of maternal lineages, which is best explained by female-biased migration between communities.
This study is fascinating as it illustrates what information can be gained with genetic data and analysis beyond the medical field. Based on the shorter average coalescent time for the Y chromosomes (which are paternally inherited) than for the mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA, which is maternally inherited) and shared mtDNA variants between the individuals of the two caves, it can be inferred that these small Neanderthal communities were predominantly linked by female migration.
Neanderthals lived between 400 000 to 40 000 years ago and were a species of early humans. From the study, it can be assumed that they lived in small communities of about 20 individuals together. Their social system was likely patrilocal, which means that wives typically moved to live with their husbands’ family after marriage.
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ESPE Yearbook of Paediatric Endocrinology
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