Red states oppose Neanderthal mating, propose constitutional amendment

Scientists say they have found genetic evidence that may answer the longstanding question of whether modern humans and Neanderthals interbred thousands of years ago. The answer is: probably yes, though not often.

In research published online by the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, the scientists reported that matings between Neanderthals and modern humans presumably accounted for the presence of a variant of the gene that regulates brain size.

The report's senior author, Bruce Lahn, of the University of Chicago, said the findings showed that interbreeding with relative species, those on the brink of extinction, contributed to the evolutionary success of modern humans.