Neandertal Receptor Boosts Human Muscle by 270 Grams, Driving 40% Stronger Cell Growth
Updated
Updated · mpg.de · Aug 7
Neandertal Receptor Boosts Human Muscle by 270 Grams, Driving 40% Stronger Cell Growth
3 articles · Updated · mpg.de · Aug 7
Summary
Adults carrying a Neandertal growth hormone receptor variant have about 270 grams more muscle mass on average, with related differences in jaw shape and tooth-root length.
Laboratory-grown cells with that receptor grew 40% more when exposed to growth hormone, and researchers traced most of the stronger response to one of two Neandertal-specific amino acid changes.
Data from more than 6,000 children showed no growth effect up to age 11, suggesting the variant’s impact emerges later, likely around puberty when growth hormone levels rise.
Inherited through interbreeding about 47,000 years ago, the variant is especially common in South and East Asia—reaching up to 24% in some South Asian populations versus about 0.5% in Europeans.
The findings add to evidence that Neandertal DNA still shapes living humans, though researchers said this single variant cannot explain the broader Neandertal body type on its own.