The Implications of Homo Neanderthalensis Genome on Homo Sapiens

Neanderthals, the closest evolutionary relatives of present-day humans, had been studied mostly based on their physiological traits. In addition, with the emergence of DNA sequencing technologies, the complete Neanderthal genome has been obtained and published. With that comes studies comparing Neanderthal genomes with that of modern humans. These researches revealed Neanderthal’s influences on humans in various ways. This dissertation explores the extent of Neanderthal contributions to modern humans and their physiological influence, demonstrating that Neanderthal-derived genes can have both favorable and adverse effects on humans, depending on the mode of inheritance. Overall, this study provides valuable insights into the potential significance of studying archaic hominins in the context of human evolution and medicine.