"Just because you can do something, doesn't mean you should."
Posted on 06/25/2007 8:51:04 PM PDT by anymouse
Researchers studying Neanderthal DNA say it should be possible to construct a complete genome of the ancient hominid despite the degradation of the DNA over time.
There is also hope for reconstructing the genome of the mammoth and cave bear, according to a research team led by Svante Paabo of the Max Planck Institute for Evolutionary Anthropology in Leipzig, Germany.
Their findings are published in this week's online edition of Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.
Debate has raged for years about whether there is any relationship between Neanderthals and modern humans. Some researchers believe that Neanderthals were simply replaced by early modern humans, while others argue the two groups may have interbred.
Sequencing the genome of Neanderthals, who lived in Europe until about 30,000 years ago, could shed some light on that question.
In studies of Neanderthals, cave bear and mammoth, a majority of the DNA recovered was that of microorganisms that colonized the tissues after death, the researchers said.
But they were able to identify some DNA from the original animal, and Paabo and his colleagues were able to determine how it broke down over time. They also developed procedures to prevent contamination by the DNA of humans working with the material.
"We are confident that it will be technically feasible to achieve a reliable Neanderthal genome sequence," Paabo and his researchers reported.
They said problem of damaged areas in some DNA could be overcome by using a sufficient amount of Neanderthal DNA from different individuals, so the whole genome can be determined.
"The contamination and degradation of DNA has been a serious issue for the last 10 years," observed Erik Trinkaus, a professor at Washington University in St. Louis. "This is a serious attempt to deal with that issue and that's welcome."
"I'm not sure they have completely solved the problem, but they've made a big step in that direction," said Trinkaus, who was not involved in the research.
Anthropologist Richard Potts of the Smithsonian's National Museum of Natural History, called the work "a very significant technical study of DNA decay."
The researchers "have tried to answer important questions about the potential to sequence ancient DNA," said Potts, who was not part of the research.
Milford Wolpoff, a University of Michigan Anthropologist, said creating a complete Neanderthal genome is a great goal.
But it is "sample intensive," he said, and he isn't sure enough DNA is available to complete the work. Curators don't like to see their specimens ground up, he said.
The research was funded by the Max Planck Society and the National Institutes of Health.
"Just because you can do something, doesn't mean you should."
"But it is "sample intensive," he said, and he isn't sure enough DNA is available to complete the work. "
That's my thoughts too...there's just not enough undamaged dna.
I’m expecting somebody holding my “donor card” to knock on my door any day now, ready to call the chit. I could save them a lot of lab time by just giving them a sample.
And we can display them! We call it, oh, I don’t know, Quaternary Park, maybe...
Unless they decide to raise him in a cave with no language I would suspect that the “neanderthal” will turn into an unrecognizable part of society, except for maybe the extra large forehead, smaller stature, etc. that some other “moderns” have. I wonder if his vocal chords are developed enough to achieve proper speaking or would he just be normal, etc.
I like Man vs. Wild and Survivorman, I would like to see how he would fare, but that would be cruel, denying him an ipod and all that.
And the point of doing this would be?
I'm not being sarcastic, I'm genuinely curious. I assume it's already been discussed...and there's probably an answer that fits the dogma, I just don't know what it is.
To hunt mammoths and cave bears.
Where've ya been for the last couple of decades, young lady?
I'm not being sarcastic, I'm genuinely curious. I assume it's already been discussed...and there's probably an answer that fits the dogma, I just don't know what it is.
I haven't seen it addressed probably for the simple reason that this is the first I've seen it mentioned, that there was an effort to reconstruct the DNA. What would you consider that needs to be reconciled? Reconciled with what?
Personally, I think it's foolish, no matter what the creature. Since there's no way anyone can possibly KNOW for sure what the complete DNA from any fossil is, there's no way anyone can be sure that what they're getting is genuine. There's no knowing what damage might be done to the DNA in the process and what the consequences of THAT might be.
If the Neanderthal is a failed species, what's the point of trying to bring it back? What do they plan on doing with it?
Not milking the government cow doing research, obviously.
Who knows? However i am sure a convenient answer would sooner or later be whittled out.
It took but the first post for the GEICO caveman to show up. Good work!!
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I have a sneaking suspicion that there’s not much difference between us and them. I think they are just a unique combination of physical traits that are not so common today. I’d like to see a search of existing humans for neandertal like traits. THen using composite photography, combine all the best ones into one photograph. I bet you could “make” a neandertal out of living people in this manner.
The Neandertal EnigmaFrayer's own reading of the record reveals a number of overlooked traits that clearly and specifically link the Neandertals to the Cro-Magnons. One such trait is the shape of the opening of the nerve canal in the lower jaw, a spot where dentists often give a pain-blocking injection. In many Neandertal, the upper portion of the opening is covered by a broad bony ridge, a curious feature also carried by a significant number of Cro-Magnons. But none of the alleged 'ancestors of us all' fossils from Africa have it, and it is extremely rare in modern people outside Europe." [pp 126-127]
by James Shreeve
Redheads ‘are neanderthal’ [Free Republic]
http://www.freerepublic.com/forum/a3adc5573604d.htm
London - Red hair may be the genetic legacy of Neanderthals...
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1322006/posts
not sure why .....
Job 3:8 May those who curse days curse that day, those who are ready to rouse Leviathan.
Job 41:1 "Can you pull in the leviathan with a fishhook or tie down his tongue with a rope?
Psalm 74:14 It was you who crushed the heads of Leviathan and gave him as food to the creatures of the desert.
Psalm 104:26 There the ships go to and fro, and the leviathan, which you formed to frolic there.
Isaiah 27:1 [ Deliverance of Israel ] In that day, the LORD will punish with his sword, his fierce, great and powerful sword, Leviathan the gliding serpent, Leviathan the coiling serpent; he will slay the monster of the sea
yep - prolly just one of them big squids (sarc)
Then theres the question of the age of creation -was it six literal - or six periods ?.......my money is on epochs
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