Although we may still think some of our relatives, or others we come in contact with, are positively Neanderthal in their behavior.
It is certain that there are no more true Neanderthals left.
True a percentage of our genome comes from neanderthals, but this is all that remains of them other than their tools, bones and other artifacts.
There has been a lot of debate over the years as to why they died out about 40 000 years ago while living in close enough proximity to modern humans to pass genes to our gene pool.
The debate has often been, what made us superior enough to survive and when they could not.
There is a new contender that seems to be one answer, and its just one little gene.
This gene found in modern humans allows the voice-box to descend into the throat as we grow older.
That is why children's voices change as they grow (not to be confused with the voice breaking in male adolescents)
This creates a larger space for sound to resonate and gives us a much larger vocal range.
The drawback is that it is easier for us to have food go down the wrong way and choke.
Having a larger vocal range allows for more complex language. Areas of the brain that are necessary and stimulate by a more complex range are thought to have developed the capacity for symbolism, music, art etc. that neanderthals lacked.
Whether it was this ability for symbolism and more complex thought or simply the ability to communicate better, it seems that a descended voice box was key to our surviving when neanderthals could not.
For a more detailed indepth look at this check out the following 15 minute video.
