Markers / Condition
Which Neanderthal genes do people carry, and what do they do?
Everyone whose ancestry runs outside Africa carries roughly one to two per cent Neanderthal DNA. The interesting question is not how much but which pieces, because several of them are individually published, individually named, and do specific things. No Homo erectus DNA exists, and none ever will.
The markers
| Marker | Gene | What it does | Evidence |
|---|---|---|---|
| rs35044562 | LZTFL1 region | Neanderthal: the chromosome 3 COVID risk haplotype | established |
| rs10774671 | OAS1 | Neanderthal: the antiviral version of OAS1 | established |
| rs75493593 | SLC16A11 | Neanderthal: a diabetes risk variant carried into the Americas | established |
| rs3750904 | SCN9A | Neanderthal: pain sensitivity, D1908G | strong |
| rs4369876 | SCN9A | Neanderthal: pain sensitivity, V991L | strong |
| rs12478318 | SCN9A | Neanderthal: pain sensitivity, M932L | strong |
| rs1042838 | PGR | Neanderthal: the progesterone receptor | strong |
Neanderthal: the chromosome 3 COVID risk haplotype
rs35044562 · LZTFL1 region
A 50,000-letter stretch of chromosome 3, inherited whole from Neanderthals, turned out to be the single strongest genetic risk factor for severe COVID-19. It is carried by roughly half of people in South Asia, around one in six Europeans, and almost nobody in East Asia.
Two copies: You inherited it from both parents
Neanderthal: the antiviral version of OAS1
rs10774671 · OAS1
Neanderthals did not only hand over risk. This stretch of chromosome 12 carries a version of an antiviral gene that produces a longer, roughly 60 per cent more active enzyme, and it is associated with protection against severe COVID-19.
Two copies: You carry two protective copies
Neanderthal: a diabetes risk variant carried into the Americas
rs75493593 · SLC16A11
A Neanderthal-derived version of a sugar and fat transporter, carried by roughly half of people with Indigenous American ancestry and about one in ten in East Asia, and rare elsewhere. It is one of the clearest cases of archaic DNA shaping modern disease risk unevenly across populations.
Two copies: Inherited from both parents
Neanderthal: pain sensitivity, D1908G
rs3750904 · SCN9A
Neanderthals carried three changes in the sodium channel that carries pain signals. People who inherited them report more pain, and in laboratory testing have a lower threshold for mechanical pain. The variants are essentially absent in Europeans and common in Latin American populations.
Two copies: Inherited from both parents
Neanderthal: pain sensitivity, V991L
rs4369876 · SCN9A
The second of the three Neanderthal changes in the pain-signalling sodium channel.
Two copies: Inherited from both parents
Neanderthal: pain sensitivity, M932L
rs12478318 · SCN9A
The third of the three Neanderthal changes in the pain-signalling sodium channel.
Two copies: Inherited from both parents
Neanderthal: the progesterone receptor
rs1042838 · PGR
About one European woman in three carries a progesterone receptor inherited from Neanderthals. In UK Biobank data, women carrying it had fewer bleedings in early pregnancy, fewer miscarriages and more children, which makes it one of the few archaic variants that looks clearly beneficial.
Two copies: Inherited from both parents
Which versions do you carry?
All of these are readable from an ordinary home DNA test file, in your browser, without uploading it anywhere.
Read my fileCommon questions
Which Neanderthal genes do people carry, and what do they do?
Everyone whose ancestry runs outside Africa carries roughly one to two per cent Neanderthal DNA. The interesting question is not how much but which pieces, because several of them are individually published, individually named, and do specific things. No Homo erectus DNA exists, and none ever will. The markers most often cited are rs35044562 in LZTFL1 region, rs10774671 in OAS1, rs75493593 in SLC16A11, rs3750904 in SCN9A, rs4369876 in SCN9A.
What does rs35044562 do?
A 50,000-letter stretch of chromosome 3, inherited whole from Neanderthals, turned out to be the single strongest genetic risk factor for severe COVID-19. It is carried by roughly half of people in South Asia, around one in six Europeans, and almost nobody in East Asia. Carrying two copies: you inherited it from both parents.
What does rs10774671 do?
Neanderthals did not only hand over risk. This stretch of chromosome 12 carries a version of an antiviral gene that produces a longer, roughly 60 per cent more active enzyme, and it is associated with protection against severe COVID-19. Carrying two copies: you carry two protective copies.
What does rs75493593 do?
A Neanderthal-derived version of a sugar and fat transporter, carried by roughly half of people with Indigenous American ancestry and about one in ten in East Asia, and rare elsewhere. It is one of the clearest cases of archaic DNA shaping modern disease risk unevenly across populations. Carrying two copies: inherited from both parents.
What does rs3750904 do?
Neanderthals carried three changes in the sodium channel that carries pain signals. People who inherited them report more pain, and in laboratory testing have a lower threshold for mechanical pain. The variants are essentially absent in Europeans and common in Latin American populations. Carrying two copies: inherited from both parents.
Reference information, not medical advice and not a diagnosis. See the medical disclaimer.