Three Subgroups of Neanderthals Identified

[Existentialist1844]

We tend to think of Neanderthals as one species of cavemen-like creatures, but now scientists say there were actually at least three different subgroups of Neanderthals.

Using computer simulations to analyze DNA sequence fragments from 12 Neanderthal fossils, researchers found that the species can be separated into three, or maybe four, distinct genetic groups.

The evidence points to a subgroup of Neanderthals in Western Europe, another in Southern Europe near the Mediterranean, a third in Eastern Europe and the Middle East, and possibly a fourth in Western Asia. These groups have been postulated before, but this is the first study analyzing DNA data to look for genetic variations differentiating the subgroups.

Neanderthals are a hominid species that lived between about 130,000 and 30,000 years ago. They coexisted with humans for a while, and may even have interbred with us.

"Because the Neanderthals lived in a very vast territory, and their evolution took place over a very long time, we wonder if there were sub-populations, or if it was a unique population," said researcher Silvana Condemi, a paleoanthropologist at the Universite de la Mediterranee-CNRS-EFS in France. "Other studies show differences between Neanderthals and modern humans. For the first time we are working just within Neanderthals and taking into account the diversity within that group."

Condemi and Virginie Fabre and Anna Degioanni, also of the Universite de la Mediterranee, describe their findings in the April 13 issue of the journal PLoS ONE.

The researchers tested various hypotheses, including that all Neanderthals belonged to a single homogeneous population, or that Neanderthals could be divided into two, three, or more subgroups. They found that the three- and four-group model best fit the data by accounting for the genetic discrepancies seen in the samples.

The authors admit that their categorization is based on limited data, since they only have fragments of mitochondrial DNA sequences from a small sample of individuals.

Princeton University paleoanthropologist Alan Mann agreed, and said it's too early to draw bounds around sub-populations because we don't have any data from individuals outside of the bounds, such as from Neanderthals in Africa or Southeast Asia.

"My view is this is very interesting research but it's very premature in our study to be able to draw any but the most generalized and preliminary conclusions," he said in a phone interview. "I like the data they present. But at the moment we have to be extremely careful about exactly what we make of this."

In the future, the researchers would like to compare their genetic data to what is known about physical distinctions among Neanderthals from different regions, as well as cultural differences, such as unique tool use among various populations.

"What is nice is that there are some variations in the genetics, and we see also from the bones and teeth that there is some variation," Condemi told LiveScience. "We give a confirmation that the Neanderthals are not one homogeneous group."

It is not known for sure what eventually caused Neanderthals to die out, while we Homo sapiens have survived to this day. Likely reasons for their demise are competition with humans and climate change.

[Xamonas Chegwé]

Interesting. I hope they manage to source more genetic material and expand / refine their theories a little.

[Existentialist1844]

Interesting. I hope they manage to source more genetic material and expand / refine their theories a little.

I agree.

I am interested in their cultural differences and how each group adapted to their specific environment. I surmise that all three groups had very distinct cultural traditions and practices. Would be interesting to see where those differences lie.

[Xamonas Chegwé]

Interesting. I hope they manage to source more genetic material and expand / refine their theories a little.

I agree.

I am interested in their cultural differences and how each group adapted to their specific environment. I surmise that all three groups had very distinct cultural traditions and practices. Would be interesting to see where those differences lie.

A bit hard to ascertain though. They didn't exactly leave a lot of artifacts behind. I am wondering if the genetic differences can be tied to any specific physical characteristics - height, posture, diet, brain size, etc. If you find anything more on this be sure to post it.

And the rest of you, please fuck off nicely and derail in the pub. We like to keep things a little more topical in the sciencey bits.

[Gawdzilla Sama]

If you have three subgroups, and they diverged enough where they couldn't reproduce, and then one group got into trouble, what would be the implications for the whole race?

[Beelzebub2]

Here and here are some more related links.

[Xamonas Chegwé]

Thanks for that ryokan. It looks like there will be more to come on this story once scientists get to work comparing the genetics with the social and morphological differences of the groups.

[Beelzebub2]

You're welcome.

Well, this is not strictly related to the article, but The World's Largest Neanderthal Finding Site is only 20 km away from where I live - in Krapina Cave. We used to go there as kids.

[JimC]

If you have three subgroups, and they diverged enough where they couldn't reproduce, and then one group got into trouble, what would be the implications for the whole race?

Speciation, but from the research that I have read, the divergence in the Neantertals was not to that extent; maybe only to the extent of racial and ethnic differences amongst H. sapiens...

[Xamonas Chegwé]

I have moved all of the derails to The Pub. Try and keep the serious topics clean people. Thanks.