Neanderthal DNA Linked to Early Rising Habits in Modern Humans

Study suggests ancient genes passed on by Neanderthals and Denisovans may influence morningness in today's population.

Early risers might have Neanderthal DNA to thank for their morning habits, an early study suggests.
Neanderthals and Denisovans passed on DNA that increased our morningness, and this has been retained in modern human populations.
Neanderthals and Denisovans evolved those mutations by living in colder, darker environments for longer than our direct ancestors.
Scientists think people of European and Asian descent still owe about 2 percent of their genome to Neanderthals and people from Papua New Guinea can trace about 5 percent of their DNA to Denisovans.
Scientists found that those carrying these mutations were more likely to describe themselves as early risers.