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Published online 17 July 2009 | Nature | doi:10.1038/news.2009.701
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Neanderthal census reveals diversity
Sequencing method uses mitochondrial DNA to build up a picture of the species.
Scientists have estimated that fewer than 3,500 breeding Neanderthal females lived in Europe at any one time between about 38,000 and 70,000 years ago — using a faster and potentially much cheaper method than sequencing whole genomes.
Science celebrities such as Craig Venter may have had their personal genomes sequenced, but Neanderthal remains are too fragmentary and contaminated to make sequencing their entire genomes cost-effective, according to Adrian W.
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Primer extension capture technique need to be appreciated as it is less expensive & require less time also when compared to whole genome sequencing.Similarly other new technique in which million of fragments are taged then simultaniously sequenced is good news. Research & innovation in this field of sequencing need to be motivated so that still cheaper technique could be developed. Only we have to consider mutated sequences from the result before conclusing to any result. Anurag chaurasia, ICAR, India