“This will be the first time the entire genome of an extinct organism has been sequenced.”
Svante Pääbo
Svante Pääbo from the Max Planck Institute for Evolution of Anthropology in Leipzig, Germany and colleagues completed the first draft of a 38,000 year old Neanderthal genome. The draft sequences three billion base pairs which consist of 60% of the male genome. In addition, several million “letters” were also sequenced from three other Neanderthals.
A significant proportion of the draft genome comes from DNA found on Neanderthal bones in Vindija Cave, Croatia. Since more than 96% of DNA from Vindija cave belongs to microbes, Pääbo’s team had to sequence tens of billions of base pairs to determine the 3 billion “letters” in the Neanderthal genome.
Preliminary analysis of the genome indicates that Neanderthals and humans did not sufficiently interbreed to transfer genes between each other—agreeing with previous studies which involve mitochondrial DNA. For example, the genome suggests that adult Vindija Neanderthals lacked the ability to digest lactose, a sugar found in milk. In contrast, this gene mutation only became common in Northern Europeans and Africans approximately 12,000 years after the extinction of Neanderthals. Hence, human lactose intolerance does not seem to be derived from Neanderthal DNA. Several other gene differences between human and Vindija Neanderthal genomes also suggest that it was unlikely that they had widespread sexual relations. Although current research with genome draft casts doubts on human-neanderthal interbreeding, further sequence data may overturn this theory.
The newly sequenced genome can also be used to obtain precise details regarding the genetic mutations which lead to the divergence and speciation of humans and Neanderthals. In addition, the genome can inform scientists about the qualities which make humans human.
The initial results of this study are planned to be published later this year.
Svante Pääbo
Svante Pääbo from the Max Planck Institute for Evolution of Anthropology in Leipzig, Germany and colleagues completed the first draft of a 38,000 year old Neanderthal genome. The draft sequences three billion base pairs which consist of 60% of the male genome. In addition, several million “letters” were also sequenced from three other Neanderthals.
A significant proportion of the draft genome comes from DNA found on Neanderthal bones in Vindija Cave, Croatia. Since more than 96% of DNA from Vindija cave belongs to microbes, Pääbo’s team had to sequence tens of billions of base pairs to determine the 3 billion “letters” in the Neanderthal genome.
Preliminary analysis of the genome indicates that Neanderthals and humans did not sufficiently interbreed to transfer genes between each other—agreeing with previous studies which involve mitochondrial DNA. For example, the genome suggests that adult Vindija Neanderthals lacked the ability to digest lactose, a sugar found in milk. In contrast, this gene mutation only became common in Northern Europeans and Africans approximately 12,000 years after the extinction of Neanderthals. Hence, human lactose intolerance does not seem to be derived from Neanderthal DNA. Several other gene differences between human and Vindija Neanderthal genomes also suggest that it was unlikely that they had widespread sexual relations. Although current research with genome draft casts doubts on human-neanderthal interbreeding, further sequence data may overturn this theory.
The newly sequenced genome can also be used to obtain precise details regarding the genetic mutations which lead to the divergence and speciation of humans and Neanderthals. In addition, the genome can inform scientists about the qualities which make humans human.
The initial results of this study are planned to be published later this year.
Post by M.S.Y.N (s41798319)
References
Callaway, E. (2009). First Draft of Neanderthal Genome is Unveiled. Retrieved 20 March, 2009. from http://www.%20newscientist.com/article/dn16587-first-draft-of-neanderthal-genome-is-unveiled.html
Callaway, E. (2008). First Neanderthal Genome Completed. Retrieved 20 March, 2009. from http://www.newscientist.com/article/dn14487-first-neanderthal-genome-completed.html
Kahn, M. (2007). Seeing Red: Neanderthals more like us. Retrieved 20 March, 2008. from http://www.smh.com.au/news/world/seeing-red-neanderthals-more-like-us/2007/10/26/1192941338612.html
