‘Well, who are we?’ Ancient bones, genes help pinpoint when humans and Neanderthals mixed and mingled

NEW YORK —  Neanderthals and humans probably mixed and mingled during a narrow time frame 45,000 years ago, scientists reported Thursday.

Researchers analyzed ancient genes to pinpoint the time period, which is slightly more recent than previous estimates for the mating.

Modern humans emerged in Africa hundreds of thousands of years ago and eventually spread to Europe, Asia and beyond. Somewhere along the way, they met and mated with Neanderthals, leaving a lasting fingerprint on our genetic code.

Scientists don’t know exactly when or how the two groups entangled. But ancient bone fragments and genes are helping scientists figure that out.

“Genetic data from these samples really helps us paint a picture in more and more detail,” said study co-author Priya Moorjani at UC Berkeley.

The research was published Thursday in the journals Science and Nature.

To pin down the timeline, researchers peeked at some of the oldest human genes from the skull of a woman, called Zlaty kun — Golden horse — for a hill in the Czech Republic where it was found. They also examined bone fragments from an early human population in Ranis, Germany, about 140 miles away.

They found snippets of Neanderthal DNA that placed the mating around 45,000 years ago.

In a separate study, researchers tracked signs of Neanderthal in our genetic code over 50,000 years.

They found Neanderthal genes related to immunity and metabolism that may have helped early humans survive and thrive outside of Africa.

We still carry Neanderthals’ legacy in our DNA. Modern-day genetic quirks linked to skin color, hair color and even nose shape can be traced back to our extinct former neighbors. And our genetic code also contains echoes from another group of extinct human cousins, the Denisovans.

Future genetic studies can help scientists untangle exactly what — and who — we’re made of, said Rick Potts, director of the Smithsonian’s Human Origins program, who was not involved with the new research.

“Out of many really compelling areas of scientific investigation, one of them is: Well, who are we?” Potts said.

Ramakrishnan writes for the Associated Press.