The unique divergence of the BRCA2 gene in Neanderthals compared to modern humans has been hypothesized to account for a differential susceptibility to cancer. However, the role of the gene in brain development and its connection with autism suggest that these differences might be (also) related to the more encapsulated nature of the Neanderthal cognition and their (inferred) autistic-like features.

中文翻译：

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尼安德特人 BRCA2 基因的差异可能与他们独特的认知特征有关

与现代人类相比，尼安德特人 BRCA2 基因的独特差异已被假设可以解释对癌症的不同易感性。然而，该基因在大脑发育中的作用及其与自闭症的联系表明，这些差异可能（也）与尼安德特人认知的更多封装性质及其（推断的）自闭症样特征有关。