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[00:00.67] The scientists said their new findings on the mixing and mating of the groups suggested the activities happened a little more recently than thought in the past.

[00:15.54] They believe the contact continued over many generations.

[00:22.18] Priya Moorjani was co-writer of the study appearing in Science.

[00:29.35] She is an assistant professor of molecular and cell biology at the University of California, Berkeley.

[00:39.45] She told Reuters, “Genetic data from these samples really helps us paint a picture in more and more detail.”

[00:51.93] The team noted that it is difficult to know the exact nature of the interactions between Homo sapiens and Neanderthals based on the examined data.

[01:06.27] The researchers also could not confirm exactly where the mixing and mating happened.

[01:15.04] However, they believe it was most likely somewhere in the Middle East.

[01:22.48] The researchers noted most modern humans still have genetic material from Neanderthals that accounts for an estimated one to two percent of their DNA.

[01:44.79] They said modern-day genetic traits linked to skin color, hair color and even nose shape can relate back to the Neanderthals.

[01:51.43] Our genetic makeup also includes links to another group of human ancestors called Denisovans.

[02:01.25] Moorjani noted that the history of Neanderthals living outside Africa for thousands of years likely gave them a greater ability to deal with climate and diseases in new environments.

[02:20.64] “Some of their genes may have been beneficial to modern humans,” she added.

[02:27.55] Rick Potts is director of the Smithsonian Institution’s Human Origins program. He was not involved in the new research.

[02:39.77] Potts told The Associated Press he hopes future genetic studies can help scientists learn even more details about the interactions of Neanderthals and modern humans.

[02:56.50] He said, “Out of many really compelling areas of scientific investigation, one of them is: well, who are we?”