The scientists said their new findings on the mixing and mating of the groups suggested the activities happened a little more recently than thought in the past. They believe the contact continued over many generations. 

科学家们表示，他们关于这些群体混合和交配的新发现表明，这些活动发生的时间比过去想象的要晚一些。他们相信这种接触持续了好几代人。

Priya Moorjani was co-writer of the study appearing in Science. She is an assistant professor of molecular and cell biology at the University of California, Berkeley. She told Reuters, “Genetic data from these samples really helps us paint a picture in more and more detail.” 

Priya Moorjani 是发表在《科学》杂志上的这项研究的合著者。她是加州大学伯克利分校分子和细胞生物学助理教授。她告诉路透社，“这些样本的基因数据确实帮助我们越来越详细地描绘了一幅图景。” 

The team noted that it is difficult to know the exact nature of the interactions between Homo sapiens and Neanderthals based on the examined data. The researchers also could not confirm exactly where the mixing and mating happened. However, they believe it was most likely somewhere in the Middle East. 

研究小组指出，根据检查的数据很难了解智人和尼安德特人之间相互作用的确切性质。研究人员也无法确定混合和交配发生的确切位置。然而，他们认为它很可能在中东某个地方。 

The researchers noted most modern humans still have genetic material from Neanderthals that accounts for an estimated one to two percent of their DNA. They said modern-day genetic traits linked to skin color, hair color and even nose shape can relate back to the Neanderthals. Our genetic makeup also includes links to another group of human ancestors called Denisovans. 

研究人员指出，大多数现代人类仍然拥有来自尼安德特人的遗传物质，估计占其 DNA 的百分之一到百分之二。他们说，与肤色、头发颜色甚至鼻子形状相关的现代遗传特征可以追溯到尼安德特人。我们的基因构成还包括与另一群人类祖先（丹尼索瓦人）的联系。 

Moorjani noted that the history of Neanderthals living outside Africa for thousands of years likely gave them a greater ability to deal with climate and diseases in new environments. “Some of their genes may have been beneficial to modern humans,” she added. 

穆尔贾尼指出，尼安德特人在非洲以外生活了数千年的历史可能使他们在新环境中应对气候和疾病的能力更强。“它们的一些基因可能对现代人类有益，”她补充道。 

Rick Potts is director of the Smithsonian Institution’s Human Origins program. He was not involved in the new research. Potts told The Associated Press he hopes future genetic studies can help scientists learn even more details about the interactions of Neanderthals and modern humans. 

里克·波茨 (Rick Potts) 是史密森学会人类起源项目的主任。他没有参与这项新研究。波茨告诉美联社，他希望未来的基因研究能够帮助科学家了解更多关于尼安德特人和现代人类相互作用的细节。 

He said, “Out of many really compelling areas of scientific investigation, one of them is: well, who are we?” 

他说：“在许多真正引人注目的科学研究领域中，其中之一是：嗯，我们是谁？”