Neanderthal man is a species of archaic hominid that lived in Europe and Asia 430,000 years ago. Hominids were perfectly adapted to the Ice Age, being described, in the light of new studies, as very robust individuals, hunters of large animals, such as woolly mammoths and also capable of primitive art but also quite complex funerary rites for the Paleolithic world.
Neanderthal man was contemporary with Homo Sapiens, that is, modern man, for tens of thousands of years. Moreover, studies show that there were inter-racial matings between Neanderthal Man and Homo Sapiens, resulting in hybrids that carried the genetic message of Neanderthals to this day.
However, Neanderthal man lost the race for survival with modern man and was no longer able to adapt to climate change. It disappeared 40,000 years ago, the cliffs of Gibraltar being its last refuge.
More recently, experts have concluded that some of the genes left by Neanderthal Man may influence contemporary human resistance to COVID-19. Basically, those who have certain genes of Neanderthal Man would be largely saved from the unwanted effects of the disease.
Part of Neanderthal Man still lives today
Neanderthal man survived for almost 400,000 years in a harsh climate. He lived in caves and was a master at making stone weapons and tools. Skillfully hunt mammoths, deer and other large animals.
Although initially thought to be raw, new research has revealed that Neanderthals manifested themselves artistically and even had funerary beliefs and rituals. He lived in families and clans sharing his responsibilities.
The remaining osteological remains of Neanderthal Man have been investigated by specialists. Scientists have been able to sequence the Neanderthal genome completely and in high quality. One of the best results in this regard was obtained using the osteological remains of a Neanderthal woman 52,000 years ago, discovered in the cave of Vindija, Croatia, but also of a man discovered in the Altaic area with a close antiquity.
Genetic research has concluded that about 2.6% of the genetic material of modern man in the Eurasian area is in fact of Neanderthal origin. And this, experts say, after Neanderthal Man repeatedly paired with specimens of Homo Sapiens, resulting in hybrid hominids that have carried these genetic messages to this day.
Arthritis, schizophrenia, but also resistance to cold
The genetic baggage of Neanderthal Man has influenced the health of even today’s man. More precisely, Neanderthal genes also came with a number of predispositions to certain diseases or resistance to others.
A number of studies in this regard have also been conducted at the Max Planck Institute in Leipzig. Among other things, certain Neanderthal genes predispose modern humans to a condition such as schizophrenia, arthritis or an increase in blood cholesterol levels, health problems that have apparently affected Neanderthal populations.
In fact, they had a high-fat diet, just to survive the harsh winters. On the other hand, Neanderthal genes have predisposed to increased muscle mass, increased bone hardness, rapid healing capacity and resistance to cold. At the same time, there are genes that have influenced the physical appearance of modern man.
Neanderthal man and COVID-19
The COVID-19 pandemic has further nuanced research into the genetic baggage inherited by modern man from Neanderthals. Specifically, some individuals have a number of Neanderthal genes that protect against SARS VOC 2, while others have Neanderthal genes that predispose to severe or even fatal forms of COVID-19.
In September 2020, this topic was developed in the journal Nature Trusted Source. The research was conducted by scientists from the Karolinska Institute in Sweden, but also from the Max Planck Institute in Germany. Research has shown that there is a Neanderthal gene, a variant of chromosome 3, that increases the risk of severe forms of COVID-19.
It has been found that this gene carries a 60% risk of hospitalization following SARS-VOC 2 infection. This variant is more present in Asia than in Europe. It was basically transmitted by Asian Neanderthals.
More recent studies show that another gene, also Neanderthal, probably more present in the European area, on the contrary, protects against severe cases of COVID-19. Specifically, in the study published in the journal PNAS, the research team states that they discovered a type of genome, also Neanderthal, in the region of chromosome 12 that protects against severe forms of COVID-19.
Researchers say that the presence of this type of genome reduces by 22% the chances of reaching Intensive Care. Specifically, as studies show, those genes encode proteins that activate important enzymes in the accuracy of the immune system’s response to this type of virus.
Basically, enzymes help break down the viral genome. These genes, which protect against severe forms of COVID-19, say researchers, are owned by half of the world’s non-African population.
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