Do you think the better athletes in the world carry more Neanderthal DNA than the rest of humanity?

I’m not sure. Perhaps it’s even the opposite

“The study determined that some mixture of genes occurred between Neanderthals and anatomically modern humans and presented evidence that elements of their genome remain in that of non-African modern humans.”

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Neanderthal_genome_project

Not at all. They just have better genetics for athletics (hand eye coordination, speed, muscular development).

No. And there is an assumption in your statement that all athletes are of the same physical type, which is far from true. The best short distance track stars are different from shot putters, are different from the best swimmers, are different from the best american football players, are different from golfers, are different from lacrosse players, are different from skiers.

Which of those seem to be neanderthals?

I didn’t read the article but my daughter was telling me that there was some evidence that RH Negative blood was evidence of some Neanderthal DNA. I don’t know where she read it.

I think some people have more testosterone, and can more easily raise their testosterone levels. I am talking about naturally, steroidal use is a whole separate topic. Of course, muscle is only one aspect of being an athlete. Some sports as mentioend above need precision hand eye coordination. Others need a great ability to know where your body is in the space you are in. Some take seemingly higher levels of adrenaline, while others need a lot of concentration and reduction in anxiety. Take football vs. golf. Football the players are revved up with energy from the loud crowd. Golf the player needs to calm down and have a lot of control and noise from the audience is frowned upon. Some sports are group efforts, some individual.

I doubt athletes have more Neanderthal genes. I would guess we all have some genes that trace back to that. I think our environmental situation influences what physical or mental attributes we emphasize and promote.

This might be the article my daughter read. Since she’s a redhead and has negative blood it probably showed up on a redhead Facebook page or something. Looks like I may have given birth to a Neanderthal although they seem to be more famous for red hair and large brains than large muscles.

@Judi If your daughter is red, then you are too. She only gets red if both of her parents have the recessive trait. Your article is interesting to think about the groups that have lots of redheads. Irish, Polish, Ashkenazi Jewish, I don’t remember the others.

@Judi Thanks for the article.

I enjoyed it thoroughly even if I now have to live with the fact that, on top of everything else, there is the great possibility that I am part N-person.

@JLeslie, I hear my dad had a red beard. Her husband is also a redhead and they have 4 adorable redheaded babies. They look like a parade when they walk down the street. They make my heart full.

@Judi Yeah, if both parents are red, 100% chance you get redheaded babies. :) My paternal side has red. My dad’s body hair is reddish, his sister had reddish hair. I am very fair, and as a child I had freckles. When my hair lightened from the sun it would get a little strawberry. Some people would ask me if I was Irish when I was little.

As far as I understand our cousins became extinct because they could not adapt, in my books they died of stupidity, that may explain why some athletes are in fact so stupid. I use the South African athlete Oscar Pistoruis who shot his very hot girlfriend four times in the toiled by accident. Does the guy actually think that people would buy his story. Everybody agrees that he murdered her. Closer to home who still remembers OJ? I think your theory may hold some water.

@antimatter don’t know if you can say they died of stupidity even if it is in your books. Remember, history is written by the winners and in this case H. Sapiens won out.

WTF?

< offended neanderthal

@rojo and that’s the truth, we are smarter and better