Neanderthal Ancestors Linked to Smoking Habits

    Can’t quit smoking? A new study says you can blame your Neanderthal ancestors for the bad habit.

    FOX’s Jane Metzler has more:

    If you’re of European or Asian ancestry, chances are you inherited about two percent of your DNA from Neanderthals, no kidding.

    And while breeding with Neanderthals may have helped our ancestors survive their ancient environment, a new study says it’s not so good for us.

    The study’s senior author: Vanderbilt University evolutionary geneticist Tony Capra. He analyzed the medical records of some 1,500 Americans of European descent whose Neanderthal DNA had already been identified.

    And he says while Neanderthals weren’t exactly walking around puffing on cigarettes, having some of their DNA roughly doubled the risk of getting hooked on smoking.

    The study also finding a link to depression, scaly skin patches, and urinary problems.

    Jane Metzler, FOX News.

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