Genetic and Cultural Identity in 21st Century

Individuals of our species, appeared in the African continent during the Middle Paleolithic, replacing the pre-existing Neanderthals in the Middle East and Europe. For about thirty years, two models have contrasted: the “single origin” or “out of Africa model” and the so-called “multiregional model of modern human origins”.

Since 2010, human paleogenetic research has highlighted the possibility of gene flow between human populations outside Africa and therefore episodes of interbreeding between Homo sapiens and pre-existing archaic populations in Eurasia.

Migratory flows underlying this phenomenon occurred through the progressive occupation of virgin territories following demographic growth in original cradle. 

In a globalized world like the current one and subjected to a continuous flow of cultural exchanges, where national borders become increasingly relative, how much paleoanthropology, paleogenetic research and different models of reconstruction of our species' past, can impact the self-representation of mankind in 21st century?

In such research context, this topic could be focused by a series of papers with a multidisciplinary perspective highlighting the persistent relevance of our archaic past in the present world. First of all, papers could update the current models of explanation of the origins of modern man (including the most recent fossil discoveries). Moreover, paleogenetic studies concerning the position of Neanderthals and other archaic Sapiens are of great relevance, also in relation to medical knowledge in an era of increasingly frequent pandemics. We recall, for example, the recent investigations into genetic variants inherited from Neanderthals which would increase susceptibility to Covid-19 infection. In this sense, paleoanthropological and paleogenetic researches contribute in redefining on an ethno-anthropological level what is today the image of man "citizen of the world". For this reason, also papers with a philosophical, sociological and geopolitical point of view could give an original interpretation of scientific data by a cultural perspective.