Interbreeding with Neanderthals, or simply breeding?

DID we or didn't we? The question of whether our ancestors interbred with Neanderthals has titillated us for decades. With the publication of the Neanderthal genome two years ago, we seemed to have a definitive answer: yes.

Now we are not so sure (see "Questions over human and Neanderthal interbreeding"). Why the flip-flopping? In truth, the question was never resolved. The research that was widely reported as proof included caveats that were equally widely ignored by the media - including, it must be admitted, New Scientist.

In any case, perhaps the question is less important (or shocking) than it first seems. Neanderthals were so similar to us that there is a good case for lumping us all into one species. The "interbreeding" question then, boringly, becomes moot, at least in a biological sense. Which is perhaps as good a reason as any for keeping us separate.

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