European Hunter Gatherers Survived After All

[PaleoPhil]

"at least for Southern Scandinavia, our findings do not support a possible replacement of a haplogroup U dominated hunter-gatherer population by a more haplogroup diverse Neolithic Culture." http://www.plosone.org/article/info:doi/10.1371/journal.pone.0011898

Determining ancestral makeup based on DNA analysis is turning out to be more art than science as each new report that comes out seems to contradict the one that came before it. Recently a few reports suggested that Neolithic farmers had essentially replaced the HGs of Europe. I was skeptical of this and now there's a report that supports my skepticism--but other pro farmer-hypothesis reports could come out.

I'm also skeptical that NeanderThal genes only represent 1-4% of Eurasian genes. I'm expecting that number to be revised upward at some point, though probably not a lot, with small geographic pockets containing people with higher ratios.

[wodgina]

Which geographic regions do you believe to be higher?

[TylerDurden]

The info I read re Neanderthals was that they formed 1-4% of the total DNA of the world's entire population in general, they were not specifically referring to the Eurasian population, I think. In which case, it is highly likely that the Neanderthal component is much higher in specific populations.

[PaleoPhil]

Which geographic regions do you believe to be higher?

I don't know. Maybe in or near a few of the areas where Neanderthal remains have been found: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Carte_Neandertaliens.jpg

The info I read re Neanderthals was that they formed 1-4% of the total DNA of the world's entire population in general, they were not specifically referring to the Eurasian population, I think. In which case, it is highly likely that the Neanderthal component is much higher in specific populations.

"Between 1% and 4% of the Eurasian human genome seems to come from Neanderthals." http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/science/nature/8660940.stm

[PaleoPhil]

More evidence of Neanderthal component to Eurasian/American genes:

NonAfricans Are Part Neanderthal, Genetic Research Shows
http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2011/07/110718085329.htm

[PaleoPhil]

BTW, I think I predicted this before already, but in case I didn't, I predict that as more and more evidence comes out connecting Neanderthals to modern people, that the image of Neanderthals will be rehabilitated more and more. Representations of them will become less and less like dumb savage oafs, monsters and diseased individuals, as in the earliest days after the initial discovery of Neanderthal remains, and more like intelligent modern humans. It's already been happening to a remarkable degree.