Final answer:
The debate regarding Neandertals' relation to modern humans includes discussions on genetic interbreeding, theories on Neandertal extinction, gene evolution such as in RUNX2, and cognitive differences. Genetic evidence suggests interbreeding between Neandertals, Denisovans, and anatomically modern humans, with modern humans carrying Neandertal DNA. The continuing discovery of fossils and genetic data fuels ongoing debate and study.
Step-by-step explanation:
The debate of Neandertals' relation to anatomically modern humans focuses heavily on genetic evidence and the behavioral and technological capabilities of both species. Genetic analyses indicate that Neandertals and Denisovans shared a closer genetic relationship with each other than with modern humans, but there was interbreeding between all these groups. This interbreeding led to the presence of Neandertal DNA in modern human populations, suggesting mating between the species was not uncommon.
Furthermore, the debate encompasses theories about why Neandertals disappeared, ranging from violent competition and warfare to the possibility of modern humans being better suited in tool making and survival strategies. The evolutionary changes in genes, like RUNX2, which are different in Neandertals compared to modern humans, also play a significant role in understanding the relationship between these species.
The morphological differences, such as the Neandertal's larger brain size and differences in cranial structure, also raise questions about their cognitive abilities and how their brain may have been organized differently from that of modern humans. As new evidence continues to emerge from fossil finds and genetic analyses, the discussion about the origins and interactions of Homo sapiens sapiens (anatomically modern humans) and Neandertals persists.