I always suspected
 

Next time a woman calls me a Neandertal, at least I have an excuse! :yougo


http://www.sciencemag.org/cgi/content/full/318/5850/546

Re: I always suspected
 

I saw that on the news Rick and I have to admit I immediately thought of you. :D

Re: I always suspected
 

This takes me to a subscription/registration page.

Re: I always suspected
 

My wife has red hair, but I would never call her a Neanderthal and live to tell about it ;)

Here is the story:

WASHINGTON (AP) — The image of Neanderthals may be in need of a makeover: scientists say at least some of these extinct hominids could have had fair skin and red hair.

Researchers studying the DNA of Neanderthals found a mutation in two individuals that can affect skin and hair pigmentation, they reported in Thursday's online issue of the journal Science.

The mutation reduces the function of a gene known as MC1R. In modern humans, when a slightly different mutation reduces the function of that gene the result is red hair and fair skin, according to the team led by Holger Roempler of Harvard University and the University of Leipzig, Germany; Carles Lalueza-Fox of the University of Barcelona, Spain and Michael Hofreiter of the Max Planck Institute for Evolutionary Anthropology in Leipzig.

Neanderthals lived in Europe and Asia about 400,000 years ago. They were replaced by early modern humans. Researchers have long debated whether the two groups mixed together, though most doubt it. The last evidence for Neanderthals dates from at least 24,000 years ago.

Scientists are working to analyze Neanderthal DNA — the blueprint of life — taken from ancient remains. They hope it will help them better understand these ancient people. As part of this process, last year researchers discovered that Neanderthals also had the gene known to influence speech in modern humans.

The two fossils studied in the hair-color research were found in Italy and Spain.

Re: I always suspected
 

I saw that story too. Some fair skinned red heads in my genealogy too. That makes things clear to me now. And yes Spewie she would.:boxing:

Re: I always suspected
 

but does that explain the fair-skinned redheads in mine? (my uncle charles, "high-yellow", freckles by the bushel and deep red hair)

...hummmm