Neanderthal genes continue to influence the appearance of modern humans

A study revealed that a variant of the growth hormone receptor gene inherited from Neanderthals continues to affect height, body mass, and jaw structure in modern humans. Carriers are on average taller and heavier, with greater muscle mass. The variant is common in South and East Asia but nearly absent in Africa. Data were obtained from analysis of over a million people and laboratory experiments.

A study published in the journal Current Biology showed that the genetic legacy of Neanderthals continues to influence the appearance of modern humans. Scientists from the Max Planck Institute for Evolutionary Anthropology discovered an ancient variant of the growth hormone receptor gene that is associated with height, body mass, and skeletal structure. Carriers of this variant are on average slightly taller and heavier, with the extra mass being muscle tissue rather than fat. They also more often have a shorter branch of the lower jaw, malocclusion, and short tooth roots. The variant is especially common in South and East Asia, where about one in five people may carry it, but it is nearly absent in sub-Saharan Africa. The researchers analyzed data from over a million people from several biobanks and conducted laboratory experiments showing that cells with the Neanderthal version of the receptor respond more strongly to growth hormone. Neanderthals disappeared about 42,000 years ago, but their DNA persists in modern humans of non-African descent, on average about 2%.