At least some of the time. The great mystery of human paleontology has been answered by genetics. A study published in
Science concludes that the ancestors of modern humans interbred successfully with Neanderthal. That makes Neanderthal entitled to the coveted title of
Homo spaiens. The scientists who participated in the study estimate than non-Africans (Europeans and Asians) have 1-4% Neanderthal genes. They also estimate that modern humans and Neanderthal humans became separate between 270,000 and 400,000 years ago. The divergence in genomes between modern humans and Neanderthal was about 12.7% compared to about 30% for chimpanzees. (Yes, we share 98% of the same genes with
Pan, but the sequencing is different.) There could be other plausible explanations of the data besides hybridization and these are ably discussed
here. Personally,
US Person likes the idea of two human ancestors getting it on in their dark caves, trying to keep warm in Ice Age Europe. I always thought I had some Neanderthal in me.
[image: scienceblogs.com/observations/2010/05]
