The entire genome of a 38,000-year-old Neanderthal, 3 billion base pairs, has been sequenced by a team of scientists in Germany at the Max Planck Institute for Evolutionary Anthropology. The group is already extracting DNA from other ancient Neanderthal bones and hopes that the genomes will allow an unprecedented comparison between modern humans and their closest evolutionary relative.

© 2009 Max Planck Institute – Vindija Cave (Croatia).

I have always been interested in this subject. I find the idea that our species is the only living member of its genus quite amazing. To think that only a little while ago (35,000 years is a time almost too small to mention in evolutionary terms) we shared the planet with another hominid is mind boggling. Now thanks to this new development we will be able to answer many questions about our closest and most recent cousin, the Neanderthal. Like did the Homo neanderthalensis and Homo sapiens interbred? And if so, to what extent? Current statistical analysis of genetic polymorphisms strongly suggests that about 5% of the genetic material of modern West Africans and Europeans owns its origin to interbreeding with Neanderthal and a hitherto unknown archaic African population.

Prof Pääbo – © 2009 Max Planck Institute

The result was obtained by first calculating a “null model” of genetic characteristics which would fulfill the requirement of descent from Homo sapiens sapiens in a straight line and then comparing this model to the current distribution and characteristics of existing genetic polymorphisms, the results obtained concluded this null model deviated considerably from what would be expected. Genetic simulations indicated the 5% of DNA not accounted for by the null model corresponds to a substantial contribution to the European gene pool of up to 25%. The full mapping of the Neanderthal genome, will help shed more light on the subject and refine the genetic polymorphism model of variation¹.

Were neanderthals able to speak as modern sapiens do?, FOXP2² gene mutation took place around the time of the encounter between the two spieces and preliminary data³ on the FOXP2 gene of neandethals suggest that they too have the exact same mutation as modern sapiens. All I can think of is the next couple of months are going to be interesting in the field.

You can always read more about the The Neandertal Genome Project in these pages.