This should be entertaining

Post by **Minimalist** » Thu Feb 05, 2009 10:32 pm

http://www.nature.com/news/2009/090204/ ... s=news_rss

The entire genome of a 38,000-year-old Neanderthal has been sequenced by a team of scientists in Germany. 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.

Cognito · Post by **Cognito** » Fri Feb 06, 2009 10:05 am

From the article:

"Comparisons with the human genome may uncover evidence of interbreeding between Neanderthals and humans, the genomes of which overlap by more than 99%."

Svante Paabo has finished his initial sequencing and is apparently under the gun to release results at the AAAS Conference beginning next week. More importantly:

"The German team has recently extracted DNA from the bones of five other Neanderthals — and so is well on the way to creating a library of Neanderthal genomes that would allow stronger comparisons with modern humans."

We will get to look at variations within the HSN genome which should be substantial when compared to HSS. I doubt that we will find any hybrid genes in this material since only six HSN will be represented, but it's a start.

Min, you are correct. This could turn into a Circus quickly since the data will probably create more questions than answers. Let the entertainment begin!!

Post by **Minimalist** » Fri Feb 06, 2009 10:23 am

FOX will create a series:

WHEN GENETICISTS ATTACK!

Digit · Post by **Digit** » Tue Feb 10, 2009 1:37 pm

I'm lost again. How would examination of their genome uncover evidence of interbreeding exactly?

Roy.

Post by **Minimalist** » Tue Feb 10, 2009 2:06 pm

Well....if they share certain genes, I suppose that could be evidence. Then again, couldn't it also just mean that BOTH inherited the same gene from Homo Erectus? Now, if we had an HE genome, maybe we could tell for sure.........

Somehow, I expect more heat than light to be generated from this but, it should provide lots of grist for our mill.

Digit · Post by **Digit** » Tue Feb 10, 2009 2:25 pm

BOTH inherited the same gene from Homo Erectus?

That's exactly how I see it Min. I'll bet you the results will be claimed by all parties as evidence that they are correct!

Roy.

Post by **Minimalist** » Tue Feb 10, 2009 2:51 pm

Isn't that always the way?

Whatever will they do if someone finds a strand of HE dna? It's not so far fetched after they recovered that protein from a 68 million year old T-Rex.