Map of Neanderthal Genome Completed

Scientists at the Max Planck Institute for Evolutionary Anthropology have completed their first draft of a map of the complete Neanderthal genome.

DNA fragments from three Croatian fossils were used to sequence three billion base pairs and map out more than 60% of the Neanderthal genome. Knowing the Neanderthal genome will help in analyzing our own genome and comparing what elements may have allowed Homo sapiens to succeed and thrive where Neanderthal failed. An initial analysis showed there was very little genetic contribution to our gene pool, indicating it was unlikely that there was much interbreeding between Neanderthal and modern man.

Modern man and Neanderthal shared a common ancestor some 300,000 years ago before the two evolutionary lines diverged. Neanderthals lived in Europe, Central Asia and the Middle East before disappearing completely about 28,000 years ago. The reasons for their disappearance are highly contested, as evidence shows they did coexist for some time along with Homo sapiens.

These results were announced on February 12th by the Max Planck Institute.

Source: Yahoo!