Why Men Act Like Neanderthals...and Women Too

I know what you are thinking. "yeah, that's my (fill in the blank)...boyfriend, girlfriend, husband, spouse, wife, little brother, boss, neighbor etc"

Men usually get the rap, but apparently, research shows that we ALL have Neanderthal DNA in us. This is not just evolution from the African continent alone (agreed upon birthplace of Man)...but for all those living outside Africa. Actually up to 4% of modern people's DNA is Neanderthal. Yes, I suppose your significant other got more that his/her share...what, "up to 90% you say?"

Actually, gross and uncouth behavior such as odor, eating habits, laundry on the floor, lack of social graces or manners, mode of dress, hair-on-back (well maybe, that is the Neanderthal poking out), etc. will have to be attributed to their family and social upbringing. So, go for it, behavior can be fixed for those of you that thrive on "fixing" other people to match your ever-changing standards.

Using DNA from 35,000+ year old Croatian Neanderthal bones, scientists now say that modern man (Homosapien) actually intermingled (hooked-up) with not only Homo Erectus (stop it - I am being serious here), but with members of the Neanderthal species as well. It was thought, until recently, that Homosapiens evolved in Africa and spread throughout the world without "mingling' with Neanderthals. Not so true, apparently.

It is now thought that initial species intermingling took place in the Middle East and spread out from there, somewhere between 50,000-80,000 years ago. DNA from modern people in Eurasia, France (well that explains it), China, etc. show a measurable percentage of Neanderthal links. The most recent trace of Neanderthals, before extinction, was about 28,000 years ago in Europe. Multi-regional evolution appears to have spread across the globe.

So there you have it. On one hand, you are technically correct when you accuse _____(fill in the blanks) of being a, behaving as a, acting like, etc. a Neanderthal. But, be careful from which window of your glass house you throw the rocks..."so are you", just might be the reply.

rw