Neanderthal DNA influences how we look today
Turns out, some of our facial features are shaped by Neanderthal DNA.
A new study from the University of Edinburgh found that three genetic tweaks in a non-coding region boost the activity of the SOX9 gene, which is key for building our lower jaws.
Research focused on 'dark genome'
Researchers looked at a part of the "dark genome"—the 98% of our DNA that doesn't code for proteins but helps control how genes work.
In Neanderthals, this enhancer ramped up SOX9 activity early in development, especially in cells that form facial bones.
Zebrafish tests show Neanderthal version was more active
To test their theory, scientists used zebrafish and saw that the Neanderthal version of this enhancer was more active than ours.
This likely explains why Neanderthals had bigger jaws than modern humans.
The study highlights how even small changes in gene regulation—not just new genes—can make a big difference.
Findings could help diagnose facial conditions
These insights don't just connect us to our ancient relatives—they could also help diagnose and understand facial conditions like Pierre Robin sequence, which happens when SOX9 regulation goes wrong.
It's another reminder that even old DNA can have a real impact on who we are now.