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FREQUENT ASKED QUESTIONS

WE ANSWER YOUR QUESTIONS

What is the use of knowing my percentage of Neanderthal DNA?

On one hand, the percentage of Neanderthal DNA tells us about the ancestry of the individual, their origins. People from African populations have a percentage of Neanderthal DNA of zero, or close to zero. However, people from European and Asian populations have an average of 2% Neanderthal DNA, even reaching up to 4% in some cases.

A person with a percentage of Neanderthal DNA indicates that their ancestors coexisted with Neanderthal populations and interbred with them.

It can also affect certain physical traits. Many studies link Neanderthal DNA to various physical attributes, skin and hair. This includes factors such as eye colour and skin tone, adaptations thought to have been acquired as populations moved further north and light fell differently. Other studies link these DNA percentages to increased or decreased risk of disease and resistance to pathogenic organisms. This is currently an active field of research with many possibilities.

Finally, out of sheer curiosity, can you assure yourself that if you were offered the chance to find out your Neanderthal DNA percentage, you would have no interest in knowing it?