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Interesting article - technically and ethically
http://www.archaeology.org/1003/etc/neanderthals.html
http://www.archaeology.org/1003/etc/neanderthals.html
...because the Illumina sequencers get tens of millions of sequence reads per sample and over 100 million per run. More likely they chose 454 for the longer read-lengths.Although most of the Neanderthal genome sequencing is now being done by the San Diego-based company Illumina, the Max Planck Institute initially chose 454 because it had come up with a way to read hundreds of thousands of DNA sequences at a time.
You need a lot less separation than that - ask native Americans vs smallpox.DavidSnider said:Would modern viruses just eat it alive? Or would they be completely ineffective because they didn't co-evolve? Is 30,000 just not long enough for it to matter?
Borek said:I don't get it. When I watch TV I have a feeling they are all around, so what is the fuss about?
mgb_phys said:Interesting article - technically and ethically
DavidSnider said:I wonder how well something separated by 30,000 years of evolution would fare in the modern world. Would modern viruses just eat it alive? Or would they be completely ineffective because they didn't co-evolve? Is 30,000 just not long enough for it to matter?
mgb_phys said:Interesting article - technically and ethically
http://www.archaeology.org/1003/etc/neanderthals.html
In the 7 May 2010 issue of Science, Green et al. report a draft sequence of the Neandertal genome composed of over 3 billion nucleotides from three individuals, and compare it with the genomes of five modern humans. A companion paper by Burbano et al. describes a method for sequencing target regions of Neandertal DNA. A News Focus , podcast segment, and special online presentation featuring video commentary, text, and a timeline of Neandertal-related discoveries provide additional context for their findings.
[Note: The papers by Green et al. and Burbano et al., as well as the special presentation and podcast, are free to all site visitors.]
[Please read on . . . ]
http://www.sciencemag.org/special/neandertal/
Also please take note from one of the articles:
Paleogenetics:
Cloned Neandertals Still in the Realm of Sci-Fi
Elizabeth Pennisi
Science-fiction writers have been resurrecting Neandertals in novels for decades, imagining what it would be like to see and communicate (not to mention mate) with another species of human. So since the idea of sequencing the Neandertal genome became more than a glimmer in a paleogeneticist's eye, some have asked, "Could we, should we, would we, bring this extinct human species back to life?" After all, biologists are trying to bring back the woolly mammoth by cloning. But for both technical and ethical reasons, experts say, bringing back a Neandertal is a pipe dream.
http://www.sciencemag.org/cgi/content/summary/328/5979/682
Cloning is the process of creating an identical copy of an organism by using its DNA. This is achieved by taking the DNA from a single cell and inserting it into an egg cell that has had its own DNA removed. The egg is then implanted into a surrogate mother where it will develop and grow into a genetically identical organism.
Scientists are interested in cloning Neanderthals because it would give us the opportunity to study and learn more about our evolutionary history. By cloning Neanderthals, we could potentially answer questions about their behavior, physical characteristics, and how they interacted with other human species.
There are several ethical concerns surrounding cloning Neanderthals, including the potential exploitation of a vulnerable species, the possibility of creating a being that is not accepted by society, and the impact on the environment and existing species. There are also concerns about the potential physical and psychological well-being of the cloned Neanderthal.
One of the main challenges of cloning Neanderthals is the lack of complete DNA samples. While scientists have been able to extract some DNA from Neanderthal fossils, it is not enough to create a complete genome. There are also technical challenges in the cloning process itself, including finding a suitable surrogate mother and ensuring the cloned Neanderthal develops and survives.
If successful, cloning Neanderthals could provide us with valuable insights into our evolutionary history and the behavior and biology of this extinct species. It could also have medical applications, such as studying genetic diseases that are unique to Neanderthals and potentially finding cures for them.