[CobaltBlue]

>>DNA difference means very little because human DNA can change and still be human.<<

There are two kinds of DNA, nuclear DNA and mitochondrial DNA. Researchers study mitochondrial DNA, usually, not nuclear DNA, although I am not sure why. Mitochondrial DNA is passed on from your mother only, while nuclear DNA is a combination from your mother and father - they actually call it recombination, again I am not sure why "recombination" is better than "combination." Mitochondrial DNA is not recombined so remains stable over very long periods of time.

At any rate, mitochondrial DNA of both human skeletons and Neanderthal skeletons have been studied, and researchers are sure that there are no known Neanderthal female ancestors of any known human.

Maybe there are Neanderthal male ancestors, just not female.

[exmarine]

At any rate, mitochondrial DNA of both human skeletons and Neanderthal skeletons have been studied, and researchers are sure that there are no known Neanderthal female ancestors of any known human.

Well, there could have been different branches of human DNA, could there not? Yes, there could. Just becuase DNA's do not complete match does not necessarily mean that they are different species, especially since there is still a great deal about DNA and its informational content that they do not yet know.

[VadeRetro]

There are two kinds of DNA, nuclear DNA and mitochondrial DNA.

mtDNA preserves better, as there are more mitochondria per cell than nuclei. You have far more chances. No nuclear DNA studies have been done between Neanderthals and humans so far and it's a pity.

[SauronOfMordor]

while nuclear DNA is a combination from your mother and father - they actually call it recombination, again I am not sure why "recombination" is better than "combination."

Your DNA is a combination of pairs of genes, where one side will be dominent and one side recessive (say a gene for blonde hair, and one for dark hair). In the creation of eggs and sperm, each only gets one side. When sperm and egg combine, the two halves come together in a new combination, hence re-combination.

This is how two parents with dark hair (but with a blonde recessive gene) can have a kid with blonde hair.

[AdmSmith]

There are two kinds of DNA, nuclear DNA and mitochondrial DNA. Researchers study mitochondrial DNA, usually, not nuclear DNA, although I am not sure why.

The mitochondrion is the power central of the cell and there are varying number of them in different cell types, with more of them in muscle cells etc.

The likelihood of recovering mitochondrial DNA, mtDNA in small or degraded biological samples is greater than for nuclear DNA because mtDNA molecules are present in hundreds to thousands of copies per cell compared to the nuclear complement of two copies per cell. Thus is is easier to study and get the information from mtDNA.

However, phylogenic studies are as well done on the Y-chromosome and so you can as well find a pedigree tree on the fathers side.

[LibertyAndJusticeForAll]

I recently read Bryan Sykes "The Seven Daughters of Eve". He believes that our mitochondrial DNA proves humans originated in Africa. The possible human migration patterns that emerge from his study I found very interesting. Anyone who wants to (with $200) can discover which daughter they descend from. World-wide there are more than 7, but he concentrated on the 7 that he believes are the maternal ancestors of Europe. Here's a link:
http://www.oxfordancestors.com/