Researchers: Neanderthal DNA Sequence Can Be Rebuilt

WASHINGTON — 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, and Professor Paabo included this artist's rendering of what a Neanderthal would closely resemble should science reach the point of actually cloning them back into existence.

"As you can plainly see, they were brutish, yes, oh yes," the Professor went on to say, "And quite ugly by our modern standards but it is my belief that with the proper care and education they could very well become valued members of our society, particularly in the area of stand up comedy..."