carnivory

Breaking news:

As a result, between 1pc [percent] and 4pc of the DNA of non-African people alive today is Neanderthal, according to the research. The discovery emerged from the first attempt to map the complete Neanderthal genetic code, or genome. It more or less settles a long-standing academic debate over interbreeding between separate branches of the human family tree. Evidence in the past has pointed both ways, for and against modern humans and Neanderthals mixing their genes.

They were surprised to find that Neanderthals were more closely related to modern humans from outside Africa than to Africans.
Even more mysteriously, the relationship extended to people from eastern Asia and the western Pacific – even though no Neanderthal remains have been found outside Europe and western Asia.

They included genes involved in mental functions, metabolism, and development of the skull, collar bone and rib cage.

1-4% is HUGE. I've talked before about the influence cold weather adaptations had on our metabolism, but this adds a whole new dimension. It seems that as we learn more about evolution, we are finding that while humans have most things in common, little genetic differences can be a big deal.

It also puts into question the dubious idea of some that the diet of our pre-homo sapien plant eaters is the most relevant to our health.