The talk by Professor David Reich about the functional purposes of parts of the human genome where there are indications of underrepresentation or overrepresenation of Neanderthal DNA suggestive of selective effects is particularly interesting. Among other things, this pattern shows that there was probably some degree of hybrid sterility in human-Neanderthal pairs, something that the lack of Neanderthal Y-DNA had already suggested.
It is easier to explain a lack of mtDNA without hybrid sterility. One need only assume that children born of hybrid pairing were born into their mother's tribe, a quite plausible possibility if hybrid children were not the product of long term marriage like relationships and where instead the product of rape or brief liasons.
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The talk by Professor David Reich about the functional purposes of parts of the human genome where there are indications of underrepresentation or overrepresenation of Neanderthal DNA suggestive of selective effects is particularly interesting. Among other things, this pattern shows that there was probably some degree of hybrid sterility in human-Neanderthal pairs, something that the lack of Neanderthal Y-DNA had already suggested.
Is there no lack of mtDNA?
It is easier to explain a lack of mtDNA without hybrid sterility. One need only assume that children born of hybrid pairing were born into their mother's tribe, a quite plausible possibility if hybrid children were not the product of long term marriage like relationships and where instead the product of rape or brief liasons.
In case it's of any interest I've posted my notes from the first two days of the Royal Society's meeting on my blog:
http://cruwys.blogspot.co.uk/2013/11/day-1-at-royal-societys-2013-ancient.html
http://cruwys.blogspot.co.uk/2013/11/day-2-at-royal-societys-2013-ancient.html
Thanks Debbie. Very interesting.
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