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Neanderthal and Human Facial Growth Differences Revealed

Posted on 9 December 2015

Differences in the way Neanderthal and human faces grow and develop have been mapped for the first time.

Research, carried out by an international group of scientists including members of PALAEO , adds vital new information to the long standing debate about how Neanderthals are distinguished from modern humans. Whereas Neanderthals had large, projecting (prognathic) faces which were similar to many of their ancestors, modern humans have a retracted face. The researchers have determined that a key cause is marked differences in the two species’ post-natal growth processes. Morphogenic differences were evident by five years of age according to the study, published in the journal Nature Communications.

Read more about the story on the University website