"Who you calling simple?" ;)
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.
You're welcome. A few years back, I read every word on every link in that article. JimRob won't let me post it as a stand-alone article. That was the only post I ever made that got pulled...wouldn't explain why either.
BTW, the Zana story was fascinating. Why couldn't some very isolated Neanderthal groups survive to recent times?
The thing I always thought was odd was that Genesis was written by Jews, but Christians don’t believe Jews when they say what it means.
Looks like the 'Hobbits' on Flores survived up to about 12k years ago. I'm presently reading the book, A New Human about the Hobbits and the author says these guys are more ancient than Homo-Erectus or Neanderthals. The next chapter in the book is titled: Out Of Asia. Could get interesting.
BTW, human artifacts on Flores date to 840,000 years ago.
Sure raises some interesting questions!
“And the point of doing this would be?”
To annoy creationists?
840,000 or 84,000?
“Homo Floresiensis (Flores Man) who lived 93000 B.C. to 10000 B.C. is discovered “
You mean it doesnt deal with Gods omnipotence and Creation, Retribution theology, Original sin and the lineage of Noah ?
hey - the NT was written by Jews - and they still don't beleieve it
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Reconstructing Caveman DNA. It’s So Easy, Even An Anthropologist Can Do It.
"Who you calling simple?" ;)
Maybe this should be done. If we regress 40,000 years or 200,000,000 and reboot from there our descendants [literally] might get it right this time.
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