Neanderthal Genome to be Unveiled

A team of German scientists plan to publish an entire Neanderthal genome this year. They used a new DNA sequencing technology that made it possible to study and map the genome of Neanderthals. This new process can analyze short DNA segments of 50-60 base pairs.

They extracted the original Neanderthal DNA from a bone found in Croatia that is said to be 38,000 years old. The scientists are currently taking DNA from five other bones which will allow them to build up a library of Neanderthal genomes. These genomes will be used to compare Neanderthal DNA to human DNA.

Neanderthals are extinct and are the closest relative to the human species. Humans and Neanderthals are part of the Homo genus. Humans are classified as Homo sapiens while Neanderthals are classified as Homo neanderthalensis. The anatomy of the two species are very similar. It was once believed that there were not seperate species but rather subspecies and were referred to as Homo sapiens neanderthalensis and Homo sapiens sapiens. It is really interesting to see how similar their anatomy and DNA truly are.

There were certainly periods of coexistence between these two species and it is possible that this genome project will provide proof that there was interbreeding. Interbreeding might have been possible because the species genomes have 99% in common. The team of scientists state that their genome is precise enough to be published because the new sequencing technique does not need to be rechecked.

Posted by: Willow Alves (1)


UPDATE:

This particular Neanderthal bone was found in a cave located in Croatia. It is not known for certain whether humans and neanderthals actually interbred. Scientists are hoping to find proof in their DNA genome. Interbreeding is thought to have been possible because Neanderthals are our closest evolutionary relative. Experts believe that the DNA genome shows limited or no evidence of interbreeding but they still say that it could have been possible. It is said that interbreeding most likely happened rarely and if it did seems to have had a very minimal effect on the variation of humans.

Our genes and their genes are estimated to be about 99% similar, this genome is narrowing down the regions in our genomes that are unique to humans. A specific gene is found in both Neanderthals and humans (but not in chimpanzees) called FOXP2 and is connected to speech and language. An article I found on BBC news stated that scientists have pinpointed a gene which varies significantly between Neanderthals and humans; this gene is called microcephalin-1 and is linked with brain development. The version of the microcephalin-1 gene that was found in the Neanderthal bone is also found today in Africans. An interesting theory is that Europeans typically have a variation in this gene and its speculated that it is passed down from Neanderthals. Neanderthals were confined to Europe while modern humans gained the ability to leave Europe.

It is not known if interbreeding between the two species would produce a sterile second generation but it is possible that it could be similar to a horse and donkey creating a mule. However, if the abnormalities in the genes from Europeans or Africans are actually directly linked to the Neanderthal that that would prove that interbreeding happened. In that case it would be more like a male lion and female tiger creating a potential fertile liger.

We have all seen contemporary humans with protruding jaw line, protruding low brow ridge, extremely hairy, or with a unibrow. There were clearly differences between Neanderthals and humans, could these human characteristics be passed down to Neanderthals’ descendants? I think all the speculations and theories are really interesting, but as of right now nothing has been proven.