Scientists Transferred a Gene Characteristic of Neanderthals Into Mice: How Did Their Skeleton Change?

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To understand how ancient genetic code may have influenced the body shape of our extinct relatives, scientists used CRISPR gene editing technology to insert a Neanderthal gene into rodents. The results show that the gene, which was shared by both Neanderthals and Denisovans, causes mice to develop larger heads, curved ribs and a shortened spine, IFLScience reports.