6 Traits You Can Thank Neanderthals For — From Bad Habits to Bedtimes

By Tracy Swartz

Published Jan. 7, 2024, 4:13 p.m. ET

Research shows that many humans have Neanderthal DNA. People with European or Asian backgrounds have 1% to 2% and as much as 4% if they are from East Asia — thanks to human-Neanderthal interbreeding. Because Neanderthals likely evolved outside of Africa, some African populations have almost no Neanderthal DNA. Now, a genetic engineer is sharing the six physical traits and behaviors that have been linked to Neanderthal DNA — 40,000 years after they went extinct.

“Neanderthal DNA represents only a small percentage of the modern human genome, and these influences are just one piece of the genetic puzzle that makes each person unique,” Sebnem Unluisler, of the London Regenerative Institute, told the Daily Mail this week.

Smoking

A 2016 study by Vanderbilt University researchers linked one length of Neanderthal DNA to a higher risk of nicotine addiction, which is surprising because tobacco didn’t become popular in Europe until the mid to late 16th century.

Having Straight, Thick Hair

“Neanderthal DNA has been linked to variations in hair characteristics. Some people with Neanderthal ancestry may have slightly thicker or straighter hair,” Unluisler told the Daily Mail. “Studies have also shown a higher frequency of a genetic variant associated with red hair was present in Neanderthals.”

Being an Early Bird

A 2016 study by Vanderbilt University researchers found that a length of Neanderthal DNA is linked to being a morning person.