"Neanderthal DNA helps human gene expression" Topic

In Cell on February 23, researchers report evidence that Neanderthal DNA sequences still influence how genes are turned on or off in modern humans. Neanderthal genes' effects on gene expression likely contribute to traits such as height and susceptibility to schizophrenia or lupus

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It looks like the least expression of Neanderthal alleles occurs in the brain and testes of modern humans. This suggests that those two aspects of human development have evolved the most, since both Homo Neanderthalis and Homo Sapiens diverged from their last common ancestor.

I always thought that was Homo Erectus, but that seems to becoming more of a head scratcher too.

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Now on another point, I thought it has been established that the last Neanderthals lived as late as 24,000 years ago. Here is the Wiki article about the finds from Gibraltar. Is this not correct? The original article still uses a 40,000 year old date.

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Fascinating. Thanks for the link

Now on another point, I thought it has been established that the last Neanderthals lived as late as 24,000 years ago. Here is the Wiki article about the finds from Gibraltar. Is this not correct? The original article still uses a 40,000 year old date.

My understanding is the union of Sapiens & Neanderthal genes took place 40 000 years ago: in Palestine, I think.

The Neanderthals staggered on for another 16 000 years but there aren't any surviving examples of inter breeding from the later periods.

That's my understanding too, but the first link distinctly says, "The last Neanderthal died 40,000 years ago……."