Neanderthals May Have Been Motormouths

From our friends across the pond at BBC News:

Scientists studying the DNA of Neanderthals say they can find no evidence that this ancient species ever interbred with modern humans.  But our evolutionary cousins may well have been able to speak as well as us, said Prof Svante Paabo from Germany’s Max Planck Institute.

He was speaking in Chicago, US, where he announced the “first draft” of a complete Neanderthal genome.  The genetics information has been gleaned from fossils found in Croatia.

Prof Svante Paabo confirmed that Neanderthals shared the FOXP2 gene associated with speech and language in modern humans.

Neanderthals (left) and us (right)

Accordingly, Prof Paabo and his team have focused on genes of special interest in recent human evolution, such as FOXP2, which is involved in speech and language.

Humans differ from chimpanzees at two key points in the FOXP2 gene.

But the preliminary results suggest that Neanderthals shared these same variations.

“There is no reason to believe they couldn’t speak like us,” said Prof Paabo.

I don’t care what the scientists say, I think the Neanderthals did interbreed how else can you explain: Bank executives who got TARP money, used car salesmen,  and the enduring appeal of American Idol.