The Los Angeles Times reports genetic research showing many of us have Neanderthal genes as well as Homo sapiens genes. It appears there was interbreeding between the two groups, no big surprise.
Part of this finding suggests allergies may be a result of an early adaptation among Neanderthals which gave them increased resistance to disease pathogens. As this resistance had substantial survival value, it has persisted among modern humans.
I wonder if the next human species is out there somewhere, passing undetected its genes among the homo saps? How would we even recognize its existence?
The next human species will be an intentional development of selective breeding and/or gene splicing with increased disease resistance, intelligence, and longevity. We'll need to get beyond our eugenics phobia. Brave New World, here we come.
