Study Indicates Male Neanderthals Preferred Human Females in Interbreeding

Key Entities

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  Neanderthals Concept

  Extinct hominin species that interbred with early modern humans, contributing DNA to non-African populations.

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  Human females Concept

  Early Homo sapiens women preferred by male Neanderthals, leading to observed sexual bias in genetic records.

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  Sexual bias Concept

  Directional mating pattern where male Neanderthals mated more with human females, per genetic analysis.

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  Partner preference Concept

  One possible cause of the interbreeding bias, suggesting Neanderthal males chose human females.

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  Demographic process Concept

  Alternative explanation for the bias, involving population dynamics rather than choice.