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100,000 year-old DNA sequence allows new look at Neandertal's genetic diversity
EurekAlert (AAAS) ^ | 05 June 2006 | Staff

Posted on 06/05/2006 1:11:24 PM PDT by PatrickHenry

By recovering and sequencing intact DNA from an especially ancient Neandertal specimen, researchers have found evidence suggesting that the genetic diversity among Neandertals was higher than previously thought. The findings also suggest that genetic diversity may have been higher in earlier Neandertal periods relative to later periods that approached the arrival of humans in Europe. Changes in genetic diversity over time are thought to reflect population events, such as low-population bottlenecks caused by disease or environmental change, as well as the influence of random genetic change. The findings are reported in the June 6th issue of Current Biology by a group of researchers including Ludovic Orlando and led by Catherine Hänni of Ecole Normale Supérieur in Lyon, France.

Neandertals were the only representatives of the genus Homo in Europe during most of the last 300,000 years, becoming extinct shortly after the arrival of modern humans on the continent around 30,000 years ago. Traces of mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) sequences still present in fossilized bones have been used in past studies in an effort to identify and track the potential genetic legacy of Neandertals among modern Europeans. Though such genetic continuity would have been the hallmark of interbreeding between modern humans and Neandertals at the time of their European coexistence, the mtDNA sequences from the nine neandertal specimens that have been analyzed to date – and that lived around the time of the cohabitation period – do not match those found among modern humans, suggesting that little, if any, interbreeding took place.

In their new work, Dr. Hänni and colleagues now report the oldest Neandertal mtDNA sequence ever recovered. The Neandertal specimen analyzed consists in a molar of a 10-12 year-old child that lived in the Meuse valley (Scladina cave, Belgium) around 100,000 years ago. The specimen yielded 123bp of mtDNA – a very short section of DNA by modern sequencing standards, but a technical feat considering the very ancient source of tissue. The reason for choosing such an old specimen was simple: it unambiguously predates the period when Neandertals cohabited with modern humans. By comparing this sequence with already published – and considerably younger – Neandertal sequences, the researchers sought to reveal whether the Neandertal mtDNA pool exhibited long-term stability or drastic modification around the time of cohabitation with modern humans. There was a second reason to pay attention on the Scladina molar: it has only been discovered very recently. This means that all individuals who have been in contact with it are known, and their DNA could be sequenced to detect any possible contamination of the Neandertal sample by modern human DNA.

The Neandertal sequence from Scladina confirms that Neandertals and modern humans were only distant relatives – Neandertal sequences are all closer to each other than to any known human sequence. But the study also reveals that the genetic diversity of Neandertals has been underestimated. Indeed, the mtDNA from the Scladina sample is more divergent relative to modern humans than is mtDNA from recent Neandertals, suggesting that Neandertals were a more genetically diverse group than previously thought.


TOPICS: Culture/Society; Philosophy
KEYWORDS: cavemen; crevolist; dna; godsgravesglyphs; helixmakemineadouble; neandertal; neandertals; neanderthal; neanderthals
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To: PatrickHenry
do not match those found among modern humans, suggesting that little, if any, interbreeding took place.

Most likely because modern women didn't care much for that "knock 'em over the head & drag 'em back to the cave" sort of dating scene. ;-)

But modern guys invented the "paper bag" to facilitate interbreeding attempts between them and Neandertal women. ;-)

21 posted on 06/05/2006 1:33:42 PM PDT by HP8753 (Live Free!!!! .............or don't.)
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To: HP8753

A #3 postal canvas sack works well too.


22 posted on 06/05/2006 1:36:45 PM PDT by ASA Vet (Those who know don't talk. Those who talk don't know.)
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To: Red Badger
If the cild was dead, then there was no chance for it to pass on its DNA.........

This is what we call a SAMPLE. It's brothers and sisters and aunts and uncles and cousins would have had the same mitchondrial DNA which WOULD have been passed on.

23 posted on 06/05/2006 1:37:14 PM PDT by ElkGroveDan (California bashers will be called out)
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To: ElkGroveDan

I thought, maybe incorrectly, that Mito-DNA was passable only through the maternal line............


24 posted on 06/05/2006 1:40:20 PM PDT by Red Badger (Liberals ignore criminal behavior, reward sloth and revere incompetence...........)
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To: Vaquero
He missed a faith! How about this:

The Christians and the Jews were having a jamboree
The Buddhists and the Hindus joined on satellite TV
And while the Muslims went on another killing spree
The rest picked their four greatest priests
And they began to speak
They said "Lord the plague is on the world
Lord no man is free
The temples that we built to you
Have tumbled into the sea
Lord, if you won't take care of us
Won't you at least smite the Muzzies, please?"

25 posted on 06/05/2006 1:43:18 PM PDT by AntiGuv ("..I do things for political expediency.." - Sen. John McCain on FOX News)
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To: PatrickHenry

"...the researchers sought to reveal whether the Neandertal mtDNA pool exhibited long-term stability or drastic modification around the time of cohabitation with modern humans....;-)

26 posted on 06/05/2006 1:44:35 PM PDT by OB1kNOb (This is no time for bleeding hearts, pacifists, and appeasers to prevail in free world opinion.)
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To: Red Badger
I thought, maybe incorrectly, that Mito-DNA was passable only through the maternal line...

mtDNA is passed from a mother to both sons and daughters. But only daughters pass theirs on to the next generation.

With sons, their descendants will have the mtDNA of their mates.

27 posted on 06/05/2006 1:45:59 PM PDT by Coyoteman (Stupidity is the only universal capital crime; the sentence is death--Heinlein)
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To: SunkenCiv

More on Neanderthal genetics.

You still holding to your Cor Magnon tooth story?


28 posted on 06/05/2006 1:46:10 PM PDT by Fractal Trader
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To: Red Badger
I thought, maybe incorrectly, that Mito-DNA was passable only through the maternal line............

Correct. So this dead child would have the same mitochondrial DNA as his/her sisters, as well as his mother's sisters' girls. All of them COULD have gone ahead and passed on their mtDNA.

29 posted on 06/05/2006 1:48:17 PM PDT by ElkGroveDan (California bashers will be called out)
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To: ElkGroveDan
This could be explained if Neanderthal women were exceedingly unappealing,

And beer goggles hadn't yet been invented!

30 posted on 06/05/2006 1:53:25 PM PDT by Right Wing Professor (...and I'll have the roast duck with mango salsa.)
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To: HP8753

*****But modern guys invented the "paper bag" to facilitate interbreeding attempts between them and Neandertal women. ;-)*****

when did alcohol first hit the scene? =P


31 posted on 06/05/2006 1:54:02 PM PDT by Zeppelin
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To: ElkGroveDan
This could be explained if Neanderthal women were exceedingly unappealing, and the only interbreeding that took place was between Neanderthal men and HS women.

Or...if Neanderthal women were GORGEOUS, and HS men killed all the Neanderthal men to take them...but the Neanderthal women decided to kill themselves rather than mate with HS.

Hey, it's another view...
32 posted on 06/05/2006 1:57:10 PM PDT by beezdotcom
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To: PatrickHenry

I'm confused. How does the MtDNA from one specimen show any level of diversity, even when compared with later samples?

(This is a legit question for you geneticists. I'm a geologist myself...)


33 posted on 06/05/2006 1:57:27 PM PDT by 2nsdammit (By definition it's hard to get suicide bombers with experience.)
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To: HP8753

Just keep in mind that the average Neanderthal temptress was burlier and stronger and quite possibly furrier than the average Cro-Magnon dude, so that whole "knock 'em over the head & drag 'em back to the cave" scene might've been a deal-breaker for the modern guys, too. ;^)


34 posted on 06/05/2006 1:58:00 PM PDT by AntiGuv ("..I do things for political expediency.." - Sen. John McCain on FOX News)
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To: Vaquero

Randy has penned a number of great songs, hasn't he?

"Louisiana... they're trying to wash us away..."

and how could I forget "They don't know what love is...."?


35 posted on 06/05/2006 1:58:24 PM PDT by Pearls Before Swine (Is /sarc really needed?)
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To: Zeppelin
when did alcohol first hit the scene? =P

Apparently not soon enough for the Neandertal "babes".

36 posted on 06/05/2006 1:59:19 PM PDT by wyattearp (Study! Study! Study! Or BONK, BONK, on the head!)
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To: beezdotcom

eh, I forgot to add the "Florence Nightingale Effect" explaining the mating of a few HS women with the surviving N. males they were helping...but I think you got the general (useless) drift...


37 posted on 06/05/2006 2:01:33 PM PDT by beezdotcom
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To: Brilliant
"So why are they extinct?"

Still a supposition. They might (although the evidence is against it) have interbred their way out of unique status as a species.

38 posted on 06/05/2006 2:08:45 PM PDT by muir_redwoods (Free Sirhan Sirhan, after all, the bastard who killed Mary Jo Kopechne is walking around free)
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To: PatrickHenry

"Neandertals ... becoming extinct shortly after the arrival of modern humans on the continent around 30,000 years ago."

Evidence of the first muslims arriving in Europe?


39 posted on 06/05/2006 2:15:11 PM PDT by BadAndy ("Loud mouth internet Rambo")
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To: Brilliant
So why are they extinct?

They were antisocial and didn't band together well.
Also, this prevented the passing along of skills leading
to advancement, when one died all his skills died with him.

Homo Sapiens were more social and had strength of numbers
and by banding together and sharing skills, preserved them.

Don't come crying for a source either, I was there and I watched it happen. ;-)

40 posted on 06/05/2006 2:21:17 PM PDT by humblegunner (If you're gonna die, die with your boots on.)
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