Question

Why was the analysis of human remains found in a Portuguese cave in 1999 so intriguing?

a. The child resulted from a "mixture" of Neanderthal genetic material with that from a Homo sapiens.
b. It proved that Homo sapiens had murdered at least one Neanderthal person, apparently by stabbing him with a spear.
c. It proved that the brain of a Neanderthal was, indeed, smaller than that of contemporary Homo sapiens.
d. The Neanderthal skeleton was taller and better proportioned than that of any contemporaneous Homo sapiens.

Answer 1

The discovery of human remains in a Portuguese cave in 1999 is significant as it indicates the interbreeding between Neanderthals and modern humans, with genetic evidence showing a small percentage of Neanderthal DNA in modern populations.

Step-by-step explanation:

The analysis of human remains found in a Portuguese cave in 1999 is intriguing because it supports the idea that there was interbreeding between Neanderthals and modern humans, Homo sapiens. This is evidenced by studies indicating that modern European and Middle Eastern populations have between 1 and 4 percent Neanderthal DNA. Additionally, the discovery of a first-generation hybrid individual with a Denisovan father and a Neanderthal mother, known as Denny, provides further evidence of interactions between different Homo species in the Late Pleistocene when these groups met.

Modern DNA analysis has confirmed mating between Neanderthals and modern humans, suggesting that the Neanderthal population may have been assimilated rather than going extinct. This theory is further supported by genetic evidence from Denisovans, who also interbred with Neanderthals and modern humans, leaving a lasting impact on human genetics.