Neanderthals, an extinct human species and our closest cousins, disappeared about 40 thousand years ago.

But before they did, they met and had children with modern humans.

The DNA of all modern humans with ancestry outside Africa is about 2% Neanderthal. In fact, 50-60% of the Neanderthal genome is found scattered throughout the modern human population.

I’ve spit in a test tube, and it’s true: about 2% of my DNA is Neanderthal!

Interestingly, modern Africans with only African ancestry have zero-to-almost zero Neanderthal DNA.

(Raise your hand if you know why!)

Here’s a fun fact: Neanderthal bones exhibit the same injuries seen in modern rodeo cowboys. Rodeo cowboys share a dangerous vocation with our extinct cousins – wrangling large animals in close quarters. Neanderthals weren’t throwing spears or shooting arrows or hunting with projectiles.

Do you wish you knew more about our evolutionary past? Have I got a book for you!

Coming in August: FISH WITH FEET: HUMAN EVOLUTION AND THE IMAGE OF GOD.

(available now for preorder at your favorite bookseller!)