Geneticist Laurits Skov explains that on average, 2% of an individual's genome comes from Neanderthals, although some populations have less or more. Neanderthal DNA can also be found in East Asians, Papuans, and Native Americans, along with Denisovan DNA.
Skov is researching how Neanderthal genes affect health and has analyzed the genome of the video's host for Neanderthal traits. The video is sponsored by Ground News, a news comparison website that helps users get a complete picture of different stories and news sources. Skov explains that humans have around 20,000 genes, although some people have different numbers, and that height, for example, is believed to be affected by around 12,000 genes.
Each gene is made up of base pairs, with the human genome consisting of 3 billion base pairs. Skov explains that geneticists can analyze the effect of specific variants on traits such as height by comparing the average height of individuals with different variants. However, genetics is only one factor affecting health, with lifestyle and environmental factors also playing a role.
