Neanderthal Interaction Between Modern Humans

Everywhere there are people who explore the idea of Neanderthals interacting with modern humans. While some people believe in it and others don’t, there is still some compelling evidence to help either side of the argument.   It was approximately 466 thousand years ago that the Neanderthals and modern humans subdivided. Eventually Neanderthals were said to have died out, but perhaps there is still part of them living with us today. According to Jonathan Marks’ article: “My Ancestors, Myself” the differences between us are rather small. Today you can still find people with weak chins, sloping foreheads, brow ridges, long heads and narrowed faces, even projecting mid-faces. But you often don’t find all of those features together. (Marks)
The first discovery of a Neanderthal was in 1856. At first glance Paleontologist Marcellin Boule concluded that the found Neanderthal had prehensile feet and could not fully extend his legs. Boule also said the Neanderthal would have had to thrust his head awkwardly forward because his spine prevented him from standing upright. That depiction of Neanderthal went unchanged for decades until in 1957 when researchers re-examined that same skeleton and concluded that Neanderthals actually stood upright and their feet were not prehensile. Also the stooped posture Boule described was because of arthritis. (Jaroff) Even with all that time dating between the first discovery and now, it wasn’t until somewhat recently in 2009 when Svante Pääbo finished constructing the Neanderthal genome which led to the connection between Neanderthals and modern humans.  
While modern humans from Africa appear in fossil records that date back 200,000 years ago, the Neanderthals didn’t show up until 230,000 years ago and disappeared 30,000 years ago. (Sankararaman, et al.)   One scientist who helped supply the world with evidence was Svante Pääbo. Pääbo explores human genetic evolution by analyzing DNA extracted from ancient sources, including mummies, and...