Study how diseases of modern men could influence the loss of Neanderthals

2019/11/14 Galarraga Aiestaran, Ana - Elhuyar Zientzia Iturria: Elhuyar aldizkaria

• Eboluzioa

Researchers led by Standford University have proposed, through models, how the diseases of modern men and Neanderthals interacted with each other and why modern men ended up imposing themselves. The conclusions have been published in the journal Nature Communications and, according to them, it is possible that diseases brought from the tropics by modern men are key in the clash between the two human groups.

Researchers have explained that modern and Neanderthal men spent thousands of years together in the eastern Mediterranean. The diseases of some would seriously harm others and vice versa. As a result, a barrier was created that prevented modern man from accessing Eurasia.

However, over time, due to hybridizations, modern men acquired immunity from Neanderthal diseases. What if the diseases brought by modern men in the tropics were more deadly than those of the temperate places? Once tested this option, researchers have seen how the balance broke and modern man prevailed. It spread throughout Eurasia and replaced the Neanderthals.

The result of the model coincides with what happened. Therefore, researchers have proposed, along with other agents, that diseases also influenced the loss of Neanderthals, as explained by the model worked.