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A molecular handle on the Neanderthals

The sequencing of mitochondrial DNA from Neanderthal fossil bone is a terrific achievement. Among the conclusions to be drawn from the data is that there was a period of more than 500,000 years during which Neanderthals and the line leading to modern humans evolved independently.

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Figure 1: Distribution in time and space of the various human lineages that evolved from Homo ergaster (orange), the first expansion leading to the establishment and subsequent development of H. erectus lineages (green) in Asia and Southeast Asia.

References

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Ward, R., Stringer, C. A molecular handle on the Neanderthals. Nature 388, 225–226 (1997). https://doi.org/10.1038/40746

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