Study Debunks Human-Neanderthal Hybrid Claim

The researchers, however, do not rule out that interbreeding may have taken place.

"Modern humans and Neanderthals are very closely related species, so it is possible that, like living closely related species of primates today, they could have interbred to a limited degree," she said, adding that if it occurred, "it was probably a rare event and the result was not significant in evolutionary terms."

Ian Tattersall, curator in the Division of Anthropology of the American Museum of Natural History in New York City, told Discovery News that he is "thoroughly in agreement" with the new study, and that "the strenuous search for a Neanderthal/modern human hybrid has yet to turn up any evidence of such a thing."

Eric Delson, chairman of the Department of Anthropology at Lehman College, City University New York, also supports the conclusions.

"The results that Dr. Harvati and colleagues obtained on the Cioclovina cranium agree well with the widespread opinion that Neanderthal-modern hybridization was rare at best in Europe," he said.

Delson added that, when combined with recent genetic studies that have found "indications of low to nonexistent" levels of Neanderthal genetic imprinting on modern humans, the new findings lead "us to reject widespread hybridization and thus a major influence of Neanderthals on later human populations in Europe."

Related Links:

Jennifer Viegas' blog: Born Animal

The Hall of Human Ancestors

Neanderthals

American Museum of Natural History