A recent study, published in the journal Genome Biology and Evolution on December 14, delves into the genetic legacy of our Neanderthal ancestors and its potential impact on our sleep patterns. The research, which combines ancient Neanderthal DNA, large-scale genetic studies in modern humans, and artificial intelligence, suggests a link between Neanderthal genes and the inclination to wake up early.
The study builds upon the understanding that the lineages of modern humans and Neanderthals diverged around 700,000 years ago, with modern humans primarily staying in Africa while Neanderthals migrated into Eurasia. The Neanderthals encountered diverse environments in Eurasia, marked by higher latitudes with significant seasonal variations in daylight and temperature, influencing their way of life.
Around 400,000 years ago, the population split into two branches, with Neanderthals spreading westward and Denisovans, their eastern cousins, forming a distinct group. Previous studies have revealed that these groups coexisted for hundreds of thousands of years, but approximately 40,000 years ago, they disappeared from the fossil record.
During this time, modern humans expanded out of Africa, engaging in occasional interbreeding with Neanderthals and Denisovans. As a result, fragments of their DNA became integrated into the genetic makeup of most contemporary humans.
The recent study focuses on the potential impact of Neanderthal genes on sleep patterns, particularly the tendency to wake up early. By combining genetic data from Neanderthals with large-scale studies of modern humans, researchers employed artificial intelligence to uncover possible genetic associations with waking habits. The findings suggest that certain genetic materials inherited from Neanderthals could be linked to the proclivity for early wakefulness in modern humans.
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