Final answer:
Genetic studies have shown that Neanderthals and early Homo sapiens interbred, contributing to modern human DNA. Research indicates that our species shares a percentage of Neanderthal DNA which has implications for various traits and health conditions in modern humans.
Step-by-step explanation:
The conclusions about Neanderthals and early humans include the discovery that Neanderthals were not a completely separate species but, indeed, interbred with Homo sapiens. Modern human DNA contains between 1 and 4 percent of Neanderthal DNA, particularly in European and Middle Eastern populations, indicating that early humans and Neanderthals had significant interactions and interbreeding events.
Through genetic analyses, it has been revealed that Homo sapiens and Neanderthals share a common ancestor in Homo heidelbergensis, and that the divergence of modern humans and Neanderthals took place roughly 370,000 years ago. This close genetic relationship resulted in the ability for Neanderthals and early modern humans to interbreed, a fact which the fossil record and DNA studies have supported.
In addition, genetic evidence has shown that Neanderthal DNA has endured in modern populations and is associated with a variety of traits and diseases, also suggesting past interbreeding between Homo sapiens and Neanderthals. For instance, there is evidence linking Neanderthal genes to certain health outcomes in modern humans.