THIS EXPLAINS A LOT

I ASKED COPILOT IF NEANDERTHALS AND HOMO SAPIENS EVER INTERBRED AND …YEP THEY CERTAILY DID 🙂 YIKES…PICTURE THAT

Yes — Neanderthals and Homo sapiens did mate (interbreed), and many people today still carry Neanderthal genes. Here’s a clear breakdown:

Did they interbreed?
Yes. This is now firmly proven by DNA evidence.

Genetic studies show that modern humans and Neanderthals interbred when Homo sapiens left Africa and met Neanderthals in Europe and Asia. [biologyinsights.com], [en.wikipedia.org]
The main period of interbreeding happened roughly 45,000–50,000 years ago. [nhm.ac.uk], [news.berkeley.edu]
Scientists know this because modern human genomes contain stretches of DNA that match Neanderthal DNA closely—too closely to be coincidence. [scienceinsights.org]

Do people today still have Neanderthal genes?
Yes — especially people with ancestry outside of Africa.

Most non-African populations have about 1% to 2% (sometimes up to ~4%) Neanderthal DNA. [nhm.ac.uk], [medlineplus.gov]
This DNA comes directly from those ancient interbreeding events. [scienceinsights.org]
People whose ancestors remained in sub-Saharan Africa traditionally have little or none, because Neanderthals lived in Europe and Asia. [scienceinsights.org]

Interestingly, while each person only has a small percentage, collectively humans still carry around 20% of the Neanderthal genome spread across different individuals. [scienceinsights.org]

Do these genes affect people today?
Yes — some Neanderthal genes still influence traits and biology today, though usually in subtle ways.
Examples of inherited traits:

Immune system: Some genes help fight infections in non-African environments. [news.cornell.edu]
Skin & hair: Variants influence skin tone, hair type, and adaptation to sunlight. [scienceinsights.org]
Metabolism: Some genes affect how the body processes fat and energy. [news.cornell.edu]
Sleep patterns & behavior: Linked to sleep cycles, mood, and even addiction risk. [scienceinsights.org]
Health risks: Certain variants are associated with conditions like blood clotting issues or immune-related diseases. [scienceinsights.org]

Important detail

Not all Neanderthal genes were beneficial — over time, natural selection removed many harmful ones, leaving only a fraction today. [en.wikipedia.org]
So while we do have Neanderthal DNA, it’s only a small piece of our overall genetic makeup.

Bottom line

Humans and Neanderthals interbred
Many people today still carry traces of Neanderthal DNA
These genes can subtly affect traits like immunity, skin, and health

If you’re curious, I can explain how to find out your own Neanderthal percentage or what it might mean for you.
Sources

UM NO THANKS BUT CAN YOU PROVIDE A PICTURE OF A COUPLE EXAMPLES OF PRESENT DAY “PEOPLE” WITH A HIGH % OF NEANDERTHAL GENETICS ?

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