Mutations in the genome of Neanderthals contributed to the extinction of this species. Scientists at Stanford University spoke about this after conducting a series of studies.
A study of the DNA of Neanderthals showed that they were carriers of a large number of mutations that were weakly expressed.
As a result, their fertility was 40% lower in comparison with modern people. In addition, Neanderthals were less genetically diverse than modern humans and often practiced incest.
When modern people 50-100 thousand years ago began to move to the territory where Neanderthals lived, interspecific crossing took place.
As a result, the genome of Neanderthals has diversified somewhat.
After passing through the millennia, most of the mutations have been eliminated, but some have survived in human DNA today.
For example, these mutations are the reason that the inhabitants of the African continent are 1% less suitable for reproduction.
Scientists believe that this study could be useful when working with endangered animal species. They often have the same problems as Neanderthals: low genetic diversity, accumulation of harmful mutations, and closely related crossbreeding.
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Scientists see the salvation of endangered species in crossing them with other species of animals.