Produced by: Mohsin Shaikh
Neanderthals
About 25% of East Asians carry unique lactase genes — and new research suggests they were inherited from Neanderthals, not developed through farming.
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Unlike Europeans, many East Asians are lactose intolerant, yet some carry ancient lactase genes — a Neanderthal gift, researchers found.
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By comparing thousands of genomes, scientists uncovered lactase gene variants in East Asians that match Neanderthal DNA, but are absent in Europeans and Africans.
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These Neanderthal-derived genes appeared before milk-drinking began, hinting they had another purpose — likely boosting immunity, not digestion.
Researchers propose Neanderthal lactase genes may have helped fight infections, explaining why they persisted long after Neanderthals vanished.
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This discovery adds to growing evidence that modern humans inherited critical genes from Neanderthal interbreeding — shaping traits beyond appearance.
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Far from being useless, these ancient lactase genes may have offered survival benefits, showing Neanderthal DNA is more than a relic.
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The study highlights how human DNA is a patchwork of ancient species — and how Neanderthal genes still influence health today.
While Europeans’ lactase genes aid milk digestion, East Asians' Neanderthal genes might serve a completely different evolutionary role — a biological mystery unveiled.