The Economic Times

Neanderthals disappeared about 40,000 years ago, but their DNA may now be helping some modern humans build more muscle

A genetic variant inherited from Neanderthals boosts muscle mass in certain modern humans. This variant impacts the signaling of growth hormone receptors in cells, leading to a slight increase in both weight and height among adults who carry it. Remarkably, researchers linked this effect to a single change in an amino acid within the receptor that persists in various Asian populations today.