Max Planck-led study discovers Neanderthal gene variant that increases height and muscle mass

August 11, 2026 at 06:42 PM2 min

This digest was compiled by AI from multiple sources — links to the originals are below.

A Neanderthal gene variant present in up to 20% of people in Asia increases height by 0.3 centimeters and muscle mass by 0.25 kilograms, according to a study led by the Max Planck Institute for Evolutionary Anthropology and published in Current Biology. The findings, drawn from scans of over 1.1 million adults, overturn the stereotype of Neanderthals as short and reveal how their DNA shapes modern human bodies.

Gene Frequency Across Continents

The variant was identified through scans of 1.1 million adult genomes from the Max Planck Institute and international biobanks. It appears in 20% of South Asians, 15% of East Asians, but only 0.5% of Europeans, subverting the long-held association of Neanderthals with Europe. The gene entered the Homo sapiens gene pool around 47,000 years ago through interbreeding.

Physical and Cellular Effects

Carriers are on average 0.3 cm taller and have 0.25 kg more muscle mass due to two amino acid changes in the growth hormone receptor. Laboratory experiments showed cells with the Neanderthal receptor proliferated 39% faster than those with the modern human variant. The gene also affects craniofacial bones: carriers exhibit a shorter lower jaw ramus, shortened tooth roots, and a tendency toward upper jaw protrusion.

Redefining Neanderthal Characteristics

Anthropologist John Hawks of the University of Wisconsin-Madison and geneticist Hugo Zeberg of the Karolinska Institute say the findings challenge the stereotype of Neanderthals as short. In fact, ancient Eurasian Neanderthals were on average taller than modern Eurasians. The researchers note that while this single variant does not dictate overall body type, it provides the first direct evidence of how Neanderthal genes influence human physical diversity and growth metabolism.