One beautiful feature that many people take pride in and even undergo cosmetic surgery to achieve is the clear indication of a cross-species marriage between our modern human ancestors and an extinct human species.
According to Sci-News, this characteristic is the high nose bridge.
ATF3, a gene that contributes to a higher nasal bridge, may be the product of natural selection as ancient humans adapted to colder climates after leaving Africa. However, the first individuals to possess this trait were not our species, Homo sapiens, but rather Neanderthals.
A high, straight nasal bridge may be a legacy from another human species – (Photo: SCIENCE PHOTO LIBRARY).
Neanderthals are an extinct human species that belongs to the Homo genus, just like us, and there is significant evidence that our ancestors interbred with them. The resulting “hybrid” generation inherited many unique traits that greatly influenced their appearance and health, continuing through to present generations.
The findings are based on detailed research of the genes and physical characteristics of 6,486 adults in the Latin American region.
Dr. Kausstubh Adhikari from University College London and The Open University in the UK, one of the lead authors, stated that some DNA from Neanderthal ancestors has influenced our facial shape.
A total of 33 gene regions related to facial shape have been identified, among which ATF3 clearly represents the legacy of ancient Neanderthal humans.
By inheriting this gene, our ancestors who chose to live in colder climates would have adapted better to new living conditions, thereby passing on this trait to subsequent generations.
“Our noses may help us regulate the temperature and humidity of the air we inhale, so different nose shapes may be more suited to the various climates our ancestors lived in,” explained Dr. Qing Li from Fudan University (China), co-author of the study.
The research has just been published in Communication Biology.
