Mixed Heritage In "Meet the New Human Family" (May, page 48), Jill Neimark reviewed the new fossil and genetic evidence that redefines what makes us human. "The Human Family Bush" graphic (May, page 51) shows our forebears, including Neanderthals, as dark-skinned and Homo sapiens as white. Isn't it more likely that the earliest Homo sapiens were very dark-skinned while Neanderthals were lighter? According to Neimark, scientists believe that people of European and Asian descent have more Neanderthal genes than do people of African descent. And yet, believing as we do that humans began in Africa, we still picture the progenitor of humanity as a white man.
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