Researchers suggested that differences in blood groups between Neanderthals and modern humans could have been one of the factors leading to the extinction of this ancient human species.
During the study, scientists conducted genetic analyses of Neanderthal and Denisovan samples, comparing them with the genome of modern humans. Special attention was given to the genes responsible for the formation of antigens on the surface of erythrocytes—red blood cells. Antigens determine blood group and play a crucial role in the immune system.
The researchers found that Neanderthals had a unique blood group that was incompatible with the blood groups of modern humans and Denisovans. Such incompatibility could have led to serious health issues in offspring born from mixed pairs. For example, these children could have developed hemolytic disease of the newborn, which leads to the destruction of erythrocytes.
According to the scientists, such health problems could have significantly reduced the survival of offspring from mixed pairs and, ultimately, contributed to the extinction of Neanderthals.
This discovery adds a new interesting aspect to the study of human evolution and the relationships between different hominid species. However, as the authors of the study note, further research is necessary to confirm this hypothesis.
The study underscores the importance of examining genetic differences among various hominid species to understand the reasons for their extinction and the evolution of modern humans. It also opens new directions for further research in the fields of paleoanthropology and genetics.