Neanderthals of the Swiss Alps

For a long time anthropologists believed that the Neanderthal man was more of a brute force simpleton who lived in a few concentrated places such as the valley of the Neander near Düsseldorf (from where he got his name). These views have been modified in more recent years as more becomes known about this ancestor of mankind.

- Andreas Forrer

No longer is it assumed that Neanderthals were extinct and we are the sole offspring of CroMagnon man. DNA testing has shown, that most of us indeed carry some genes from the Neanderthal species; the author included. It becomes apparent that during the time both species were alive in Europe, some of them must have produced offspring with each other. Based on DNA analysis of examined bones both species likely started to mingle as early as 100,000 BCE. It is clear that the Neanderthal species has gone extinct but some of its genes survived in the DNA of modern man. Likewise, we also have proof that DNA from Homo sapiens has been found in Neanderthal remains. So what consequences have come from this interchange of DNA? The bad news is that the risk of a Nicotine addiction and depression are attributed to the Neanderthal DNA. On the bright side, the Neanderthal man gave us an improved immune system and a higher tolerance for cold temperatures. The author’s own DNA shows 1.4% of Neanderthal DNA, which improves the learning and memorization ability through visual clues (definitely true) and an improved immune system against pathogens.