Posted on 05/06/2010 1:42:51 PM PDT by Willie Green
For the first time ever, German scientists have drafted a genome sequence for the Neanderthal and believe their results show that the extinct hominid interbred with humans.
Researchers at the Max Planck Institute for Evolutionary Anthropology in Leipzig analysed some four billion base pairs of DNA from Neanderthals a species which died out more than 30,000 years ago. Initial analysis of the resulting genome sequence draft show that Neanderthals left traces of themselves in the genomes of some modern humans, the study published in this months journal Science revealed.
"The comparison of these two genetic sequences enables us to find out where our genome differs from that of our closest relative," research team leader Svante Pääbo said in a statement.
The DNA fragments came from bones found in Croatia, Russia, Spain and the Neandertal region of Germany. But the scientists had to develop a new method of separating DNA microbes that had lived in the bones for some 40,000 years and the DNA of the Neanderthals themselves, the statement said.
Over 95 percent of the DNA in one sample originated from bacteria and micro-organisms which colonised the Neanderthal after his death," Pääbo said.
Once they were able to compare the human and Neanderthal genome sequences, they discovered that contrary to the common belief that the two species are not related, it appears the two actually bred enough for traces to appear in between one and four percent of modern human DNA.
"Those of us who live outside Africa carry a little Neanderthal DNA in us," Pääbo said.
The scientists compared the genome sequences for European, Asian and Africans against the Neanderthal, and found that humans outside Africa show traces.
"Neanderthals probably mixed with early modern humans before Homo sapiens split into different groups in Europe and Asia," Pääbo said.
Now the group is working to determine which modern human genes may have come from Neanderthals and whether they provided an evolutionary advantage.
So far they have found genes related to cognitive function, metabolism and cranial features, the collar bone, and rib cage, the statement said.
"We will also decode the remaining parts of the Neanderthal genome and learn much more about ourselves and our closest relative," says Svante Pääbo.
“Barefoot and pregnant around the campfire made us the dominant species?”
Yeah.
“Unlike modern humans, who had developed a versatile division of labor between men and women, the entire Neanderthal population seems to have been engaged in a single main occupation, the hunting of large game, the scientists, Steven L. Kuhn and Mary C. Stiner, say in an article posted online yesterday in Current Anthropology.”
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thanks wildbill.Just adding to the catalog, not sending a general distribution. To all -- please ping me to other topics which are appropriate for the GGG list.The Neandertal EnigmaFrayer's own reading of the record reveals a number of overlooked traits that clearly and specifically link the Neandertals to the Cro-Magnons. One such trait is the shape of the opening of the nerve canal in the lower jaw, a spot where dentists often give a pain-blocking injection. In many Neandertal, the upper portion of the opening is covered by a broad bony ridge, a curious feature also carried by a significant number of Cro-Magnons. But none of the alleged 'ancestors of us all' fossils from Africa have it, and it is extremely rare in modern people outside Europe." [pp 126-127] |
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A humans are still breeding with them. Been to a NBA game lately?
LOL!
That would mean that black peoples DNA is up to 4% different than all other races...
Am I missing something? I don't know jack about this subject.
You're asking the wrong guy. Whatever you know, I'm sure dwarfs what I know. Plus, the story itself, when it says...
"Those of us who live outside Africa carry a little Neanderthal DNA in us," Pääbo said.The scientists compared the genome sequences for European, Asian and Africans against the Neanderthal, and found that humans outside Africa show traces.
He seems to be implying that people who live inside Africa carry more Neanderthal DNA, than those that live outside Africa, which is then contradicted in the very next paragraph. Doesn't make sense.
I think it’s more likely that Neanderthals died out because their crazy muscular bodies demanded a lot of calories — more than 50% more than a modern human does. So in times of famine or bad weather, they couldn’t find enough food to keep those muscular bodies fueled. Also, while they could sprint faster, we’re better at long distance running. So we excelled at hunting in non-forested areas.
So African Blacks are the only true pure homo sapiens and the rest of us are mixed breed? LOL. Al Sharpton should run with this one!
LOL! Excellent!
I don’t disagree at all.
I would also note that a neaderthal female would be bigger an tougher than all but the biggest and toughest homo sapien sapien, so any gene sharing was almost surely the result of neaderthal men breeding with HSS females -— although some men still like to get tossed around.
We have to close the Neanderthal gap.
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