A revolution in the study of human evolution is under way thanks to the invention of techniques that enable DNA sequencing of not only modern humans, but also ancient humans. Modern humans (Homo sapiens) and archaic humans called Neanderthals (H. neanderthalensis) shared a common ancestor in Africa but diverged in different geographic areas. When modern humans migrated out of Africa and dispersed around the world starting about 100,000 years ago, they overlapped with Neanderthals in Europe. This scenario is best described as a. species living in sympatry following allopatric speciation b. species living in sympatry following sympatric speciation c. species living in allopatry following allopatric speciation d. species living in allopatry following sympatric speciation
Ch. 24 - Speciation
Chapter 23, Problem 16
Neanderthals disappeared about 40,000 years ago when the modern human population increased. This is an example of what outcome(s) of secondary contact (see Table 24.4)? Predict one way this result might have come about.


1
Identify the outcome of secondary contact: extinction of one population.
Understand the context: Neanderthals disappeared about 40,000 years ago when modern humans increased.
Analyze the table: Extinction of one population occurs if one species is a better competitor for shared resources.
Predict the mechanism: Modern humans may have been better competitors for resources, leading to Neanderthal extinction.
Consider other factors: Disease, climate change, or interbreeding could also have contributed to Neanderthal extinction.

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Textbook Question
Svante Pääbo and colleagues were the first to sequence the Neanderthal genome from fossils and compare the sequences to modern humans. According to the data shown here, did the two species interbreed when they overlapped in Europe? Explain.
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Textbook Question
If you sequenced the DNA of all your classmates, you would probably observe that the percentage of Neanderthal genes in their genomes varies from 0–4%. How would you know whether there is a significant difference in percentage between students with blue eyes and students with brown eyes?
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