Final answer:
The oldest Homo sapiens fossils are about 300,000 years old, which are more recent than the Neanderthal fossils dated to around 400,000 years ago. Factors for Neanderthal extinction may include environmental changes and competition with Homo sapiens, who had additional cognitive and social advantages. Genetic research has aided in understanding human evolution, and present-day changes in lactose tolerance among populations exemplify ongoing human evolution.
Step-by-step explanation:
The oldest known Homo sapiens fossils have been dated to about 300,000 years ago, which are younger than the earliest European and Western Asian Neanderthal fossils that date back to around 400,000 years ago. Homo sapiens fossils are thus more recent when compared to those of the Neanderthals found in these regions. Additionally, there were periods where both Neanderthals and Homo sapiens coexisted which has led to genetic evidence of interbreeding between the two species.
The extinction of the Neanderthal and the survival of modern humans could be hypothesized due to a combination of factors including climate change, competition for resources, the potential for a wider diet in Homo sapiens, and perhaps cognitive and social advantages such as more complex language skills that Homo sapiens might have had. Genetic research has significantly contributed to tracking the human story by providing insights into migratory patterns, admixture with Neanderthals, and genetic diversity which informs us about human adaptation and evolution.
Humans continue to evolve today with examples such as changes in lactose tolerance among different populations. The evolution of pathogens and the human response to these pathogens also provide evidence of ongoing human evolution.