Any admixture would have to be driven by male Neanderthals. Two years ago we discussed morphological evidence of nontrivial interbreeding. Since then Neanderthal DNA has been examined for genetic support for this model of human evolution, largely contradicting the belief in Neanderthal contribution to modern humanity. Indeed any contribution from the Neanderthal gene pool to the evolution of modern humans might be very rare and indeed it appears that the best candidate gene thus (MC1R) far likely was a result of convergent evolution. [more inside]
posted by wantwit on Mar 20, 2008 - 19 comments

Interspecies snorgling. Cat and squirrel.
posted by nickyskye on Apr 1, 2007 - 55 comments

Hey, dis here nest you got iz real nize. I sees you already gotcha a pretty leetle egg hera. Be a real pity if somethin' bad happened to dis nest, capisce? By da way, you don' mind takin' care my leetle egg, too, do ya? Do ya?
posted by orthogonality on Mar 18, 2007 - 42 comments