European farmers borrowed genes from hunter-gatherers to survive disease – study

In recent years, the study of ancient genomes has allowed scientists to essentially travel back in time to trace the evolution of humans and other organisms (David Davies/PA)

Early European farmers borrowed genes from hunter-gatherers to help them fight disease, a study suggests.

When early Stone Age farmers first moved into Europe from the Near East about 8,000 years ago, they met and began mixing with the existing hunter-gatherer populations.