EXCERPT

About 2% of the DNA in most people alive today came from trysts between ancient humans and their Neanderthal neighbors tens of thousands of years ago, recent studies have shown. Now, scientists are trying to determine what, if any, impact that Neanderthal genetic legacy has on our contemporary lives.

In a pair of papers published this week in the American Journal of Human Genetics, two research teams report that in many people, a group of genes that govern the first line of defense against pathogens was probably inherited from Neanderthals.

These same genes appear to play a role in some people's allergic reaction to things like pollen and pet fur as well, the scientists said.

SOURCE

http://www.latimes.com/science/sciencenow/la-sci-sn-neanderthal-genes-immunity-20160106-story.html