Analyzing a whole-genome sequence extracted from part of the root of one of Thorin’s molars, researchers led by Ludovic Slimak from Toulouse, France’s Center for Anthropobiology and Genomics discovered Throin was a male with a high amount of genetic homozygosity. This means Thorin’s genome was full of the variants one usually sees with recent inbreeding, a striking feature given other modern humans lived nearby with whom Thorin’s Neanderthal community could have interbred. Indeed, Thorin’s genetic makeup was much closer to the genomes of early Neanderthals from more than 100,000 years ago, suggesting Thorin’s community remained isolated from other Neanderthals for at least 50,000 years.Â
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Sharing the name of a legendary dwarf in J. R. R. Tolkien’s classic fantasy novel “The Hobbit,” a Neanderthal now known as Thorin wandered the Earth up to 42,000 years ago. Now a [new study](https://www.cell.com/cell-genomics/fulltext/S2666-979X(24)00177-0?_returnURL=https%3A%2F%2Flinkinghub.elsevier.com%2Fretrieve%2Fpii%2FS2666979X24001770%3Fshowall%3Dtrue) in the journal Cell Genomics reveals that Thorin probably lived a very isolated life … one that seemingly included lots of inbreeding.
Analyzing a whole-genome sequence extracted from part of the root of one of Thorin’s molars, researchers led by Ludovic Slimak from Toulouse, France’s Center for Anthropobiology and Genomics discovered Throin was a male with a high amount of genetic homozygosity. This means Thorin’s genome was full of the variants one usually sees with recent inbreeding, a striking feature given other modern humans lived nearby with whom Thorin’s Neanderthal community could have interbred. Indeed, Thorin’s genetic makeup was much closer to the genomes of early Neanderthals from more than 100,000 years ago, suggesting Thorin’s community remained isolated from other Neanderthals for at least 50,000 years.Â
Read the story by Matthew Rozsa: [https://www.salon.com/2024/09/14/genetic-analysis-of-neanderthal-named-for-tolkien-character-reveals-history-of-inbreeding/](https://www.salon.com/2024/09/14/genetic-analysis-of-neanderthal-named-for-tolkien-character-reveals-history-of-inbreeding/)
Homo Alabamus
Shoulda been named for a British Royal, instead.