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Published online 4 February 2009 | Nature 457, 645 (2009) | doi:10.1038/457645a
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Neanderthal genome to be unveiled
Draft sequence opens window on human relatives.
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.
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Neanderthal specimens characteristically display a thick, bowed shaft of the thigh bones, and a bowed femur. The interpretation is that these hominids were stronger and physically more robust than co-existing Homo sapiens-like hominids. But recall that marrow of the long bones, and of the pelvis harbors a large cache of hematopoietic stem cells (HSCs). The anatomy of the marrow, being soft tissue, is not preserved in the fossils. My speculation is that H. sapiens at the time had already evolved a more adaptable immune system than the Neanderthals, and had larger marrow spaces and less robust bones to match. The place to look genetically at this hypothesis is on the 30 MB interval on 6p which encodes HLA-A, C, B, DR, DQ, DP and the lympotoxin/TNF genes. The so-called "extended haplotypes" in this region show a suppression of crossing over, as if the entire unit tends to be inherited as a bloc. Although there will be some cool hints about the immune system at 14q32, where IgH is encoded (likely a significantly-reduced V, D, and J diversity), the HLA 6p region to me will be quite a surprise, providing hints for anthropologists on how modern humans can radiate so broadly in diverse biomes, coping with just about any new microbial challenge, in their rather rapid radiation across the globe.
We have been discussing the issue of Neanderthals genes in modern humans on Quetzalcoatl Anthro Forums for over two years now ... Plz check out the discussion ...
It would be extremely interesting to find out which was the first species to have the white of the eye. Did Neanderthals have it?
Are there any plans to clone a Neanderthal?
In his book "The Ancestor's Tale" Richard Dawkins makes the comment that there is a chance that a given ancestor's DNA is not represented in your DNA, particularly if that ancestor's genes had not fit in with the rest of your genes. Which leads to the possibility that Neanderthalers could be in our ancestry without there being any Neaderthaler DNA left. I don't think it is likely, but who knows.