A study revealed that Neanderthal DNA would contribute to the development of certain human behaviors such as smoking, alcohol consumption or even sleep.
“Our results suggest that Neanderthals carried multiple variants that significantly increase the risk of smoking in people today,” said Michael Dannerman, associate professor of evolutionary genomics at the University of Tartu and lead author of the study, in a press release.
The discovery of small traces of Neanderthal DNA in our genetics in 2010 led a group of scientists to re-evaluate risk factors for behavioral disorders, drug addiction and human brain disorders, such as neurological or psychiatric diseases.
An international team of scientists, led by researchers from the Estonian University of Tartu, analyzed Neanderthal DNA associations, tracing a wide range of human habits and psychological patterns.
According to Stefan Gold, professor of neuropsychiatry, who co-led the study, significant associations of Neanderthal DNA with alcohol and smoking habits could “help us unravel the evolutionary origin of addictive and drug-seeking behaviors. reward”.
“These results provide interesting candidates for further functional testing and potentially help us in the future to better understand the specific biology of Neanderthals,” said Michael Dannerman.