New Technology Is Revealing Neanderthal DNA

[Jaga]

New Technology Is Revealing Neanderthal DNA
Analysis of 38,000-Year-Old Bone Gives Scientists Insight Into Humans' Cousin

By Rick Weiss
Washington Post Staff Writer
Thursday, November 16, 2006; Page A11

Unleashing a new kind of DNA analyzer on a 38,000-year-old fragment of fossilized Neanderthal bone, scientists have assembled a portion of that creature's genetic code -- a technological tour de force that has researchers convinced they will soon know the entire DNA sequence of the closest cousin humans ever had.

Such a feat, deemed impossible even a few years ago, could tell a lot about what Neanderthals were like, such as their hair and skin color and their relative facility with language, according to scientists in Germany and California who released the new results yesterday. It could also clear up what sort of relationship existed between Neanderthals and the first modern humans.

The newfound ability to reconstruct prehistoric DNA allows scientists to home in on the fraction of a percent of human DNA that will differ from that of Neanderthals, who went extinct 30,000 years ago.


www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/11/15/AR2006111501042.html

[Jaga]

Does anybody know whether neandertals could mix up with the ancestors of modern humans?

[kaima]

Well.... yes. Whether they did or not is still in question. Surprisingly some DNA results a few years ago came up with "conclusive" proof that they did not; however, scientists are still actively discussing that possibility. Perhaps in 2 or 5 years additional DNA research will yield new and better informed opinions.

It is interesting to follow this through history, particularly with the human ego that demands "we cannot!" be related to such a brutish beast. I have met too many people who behaved like Neanderthals for me to be sure they are fully extinct.

I do follow this along with my other archaeological interests and am currently about half way through "The Neanderthal's Necklace" by Juan Luis Arsuaga. It is a surprisingly readable by a renowned researcher in the field, and all the more so because it is a translation from the original Spanish. He concentrates unsurprisingly upon the Iberian Peninsula, the "last stand" of the Neanderthals, and he spent the first half of the book building the background and defining the world that the Neanderthal lived in. All of this is impressive, but to do it in an easy to read, informative and interesting fashion is rare indeed.

[sciwriter]

Visit
www.pbs.org/wgbh/evolution/humans/humankind/n.html
Also, I understand that since neanderthals had larger brains, they had greater memory than homo erectus. But they had virtually no imagination. So doing more with small is more important than big.

[bescheid]

Well, I am totally devastated, this for sure. Whilst attending Anthropology studies long ago, far away. Our professor made a broad distinction between Neanderthal, Cro-Mignon and Homo-Sapien. Now I find my studies badly out dated. Cro-Magnon is now {Early Homo-Sapien}.

Another possible mistake in out dated teaching was: If a Neanderthal man was with all things being equal, placed into todays world, hair cut, shave and {showered} wearing clothing of today. Would be other then more muscular, shorter with associated heavy build {as of weight lifter} would pass in the general population with out much comment if any.

In as much to co-habitation between the sexs of Neanderthals and Cro-Magnon, personally I would tend to say yes of course. People being people generally will share a similar idea when the time is right.

Now for instance: You take a nice man of Cro-Magnon after a hard days hunt and then a much more difficult time making the game dead. It begins to rain and the mountain snows are encroaching more closer as the hour closes. Being very cold, wet, tired, hungry and horny. Lo, a waft of smoke catches his nostrils, he squints pass his rain dripping brow and spies a lady Neanderthal looking at him from the confines of her dry, warm cave, smiles a toothy smile, smooths the loose hair from her forehead, and waves to the new possible love of her life {also owner of a large amount of tasty fresh kill meat} and beckons the brave hunter to her cave to share and dine on their new found friendship.

It takes not much imagination to figure out the remainder of the evening after the meat is eaten, as the evening matures and snuggle time arrives.

Being of two different species though, nature may not look upon this union {even as short lived as it may be} with a gladdened heart. Mother nature may not allow an off spring to be produced from this association of two healthy fine specimens, because of a problem of genetics. But, who knows for sure?

Charles

[sciwriter]

Charles, for example, suppose a pencil and an eraser were shown separately to a Neanderthal and Cro-Magnon. IMO the Cro-Magnon would have the imagination to combine
the eraser with the pencil into a single unit so that the eraser is always available to delete unwanted pencil marks. I doubt whether the Neanderthal would do this:
news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2004/11/1124_041124_neanderthals_language_2.html
Carl

[kaima]

Carl,

The Cro-Magnon might never make the connection if he held the wrong religion and there were taboos about mixing pencils / graphite and rubber erasers. Imagine how that would have held up science!

Kai

[bescheid]

sciwriter said:

Charles, for example, suppose a pencil and an eraser were shown separately to a Neanderthal and Cro-Magnon. IMO the Cro-Magnon would have the imagination to combine
the eraser with the pencil into a single unit so that the eraser is always available to delete unwanted pencil marks. I doubt whether the Neanderthal would do this:
news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2004/11/1124_041124_neanderthals_language_2.html
Carl

Well, I would tend to wonder? As we have not the ability to dig up a Neanderthal and resurrect him/her to find out these interesting bit of information, we as present day Homo-Saphiens {inbetween our activities of killing each other off for no better reason then we are here} must postulate little known information from these ancient people by what they have left behind as artifacts.

The common thought that has persisted is that the Neanderthals were brutish humanoids with very little capacity of brain power and spent their time swinging clubs and walking hunched over with swinging arms is simply not true.

One must bear in mind that these people had nothing for support other then them selves and what they created with their minds and hands. They lived in absolute insecure environment of forest/cold/heat/uncertain food supplies/no medical/no television. Only what they conceived by their own hands.

There were no medical facilities for the ladies to assist in birthing their children and then the very dangerous after math of attraction of predatory animals smelling the birthing process, and protecting their new born from being stolen by waiting predators and eaten before the new born has hardly drawn its first breath.

Neanderthals did have art, and they did have artistic imagination. They also had thoughts of an after life. This is witnessed by drawings preserved in located caves and burial locations with remnants of flowers left by the grieving.

It is true though of the advanced sophistication of toolmaking, art evidenced by found remnants of Cro Magnon {early Homo sapien}. What is not known, is, was the building of new knowledge upon the building blocks or earlier conceived knowledge? As this is a common trait of present day HomoSapiens.

Whilst in studying of Anthropology, it was my unfortunate assignment study of and presentation of a paper on {The advancement and precession of Neanderthal}.

Have you every tried to flake out a flint point? I tried and failed m miserably. Instead of demonstrated examples for display as support for the paper. My demonstrated examples were the failures of currant man to duplicate what was accomplished in daily life by the ancients as a routine.

www.paleodirect.com/m162.htm

news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/science/nature/3256228.stm

Even though the Neanderthal was a separate species, my postulation is that they were not inferior to the Cro Magnon. What would place them apart is: Due to ineffcient hunting methods, they had not the spare time or energy to devote to symbolic activity. But, as thus though, would not mean they were incapable of abstract thinking.

Just a postulation.

I would be very interested in the thoughts and findings of others as other wise and/or diverse thoughts on this subject.

Charles

[sciwriter]

Charles & Kaima: Good poInts! BTW...some Neanderthals may be doing commercials on TV. Carl

[scatts]

It will be interesting to see what they come up with. As I understand it the main issue is to establish whether we evolved from Neandethals or whether they were a completely different sub-species (species). If there is only 1% difference between us and chimps then I suppose the difference between us and Neanderthals will be VERY small. Amazing how such a small genetic difference affects the overall outcome! Although, we would think that, wouldn't we! If any REALLY intelligent beings were looking in they might not agree that there is much more than 1% difference between us and chimps in any respect.

[bescheid]

scatts said:

It will be interesting to see what they come up with. As I understand it the main issue is to establish whether we evolved from Neandethals or whether they were a completely different sub-species (species). If there is only 1% difference between us and chimps then I suppose the difference between us and Neanderthals will be VERY small. Amazing how such a small genetic difference affects the overall outcome! Although, we would think that, wouldn't we! If any REALLY intelligent beings were looking in they might not agree that there is much more than 1% difference between us and chimps in any respect.

My suggestion is of this postulation: Neanderthal was not a sub-species of homo sapien. But, as instead, a parallel species. They simply run out of time as of that of a multitude of animal life that nature deemed as finished.

In time, so will Homo Sapien have its run time, and then will be overtaken by another species of life that will become dominant for its time in turn.

Charles