After taking the 23andMe DNA test, I found it interesting which traits I inherited from my Neanderthal genes. It showed that I had 2% DNA from long-ago Neanderthal ancestors. As of now, I don’t know if that’s from Mom or from Dad’s side of the family tree or both sides.
Here are some of the findings:
- You have one variant associated with having a worse sense of direction. (Great, I finally have something I can blame for all those times I got lost.)
- You have one variant associated with being more likely to prefer dark chocolate over milk chocolate. (Who knew that Neanderthals even had chocolate???)
Some Neanderthal traits that did not show up in my DNA include:
- You have 0 variants associated with having difficulty discarding rarely-used possessions. (Well, darn, this is a problem for me, but apparently I inherited it elsewhere or learned it.)
- You have 0 variants associated with generally not feeling angry when hungry. (I do get grouchy when I’m hungry and apparently, so do Neanderthals.)
- You have 0 variants associated with being less likely to have a fear of heights. (Yep, I am afraid of heights.)
- You have 0 variants associated with being more likely to have a fear of public speaking. (I’m quaking in my boots before giving a talk, but I thought everyone felt that way.)
- You have 0 variants associated with being more likely to cry while cutting onions.
- You have 0 variants associated with being less likely to have a chin dimple. (Dad had a chin dimple, or maybe it was a scar from an injury.)
- You have 0 variants associated with being less likely to blush easily. (Yep, I have always blushed easily.)
- You have 0 variants associated with eating leafy greens less frequently. (Actually, I’d rather have some dark chocolate.)
It sure would have been great to have gotten Mom and Dad to take a DNA test. Then we could have compared notes.
Discovering Mom 