Ancient DNA and the Neanderthals.

Fragments of the non-coding portion of mtDNA of various lengths have been successfully isolated from a total of eight Neanderthal specimens. This has provided an insight into the mtDNA gene pool and has enabled some aspects of the diversity and age of the Neanderthal lineage to be assessed. No admixture between modern humans and Neanderthals has been detected, but the limited number of samples available for molecular analysis limit the conclusions that can be made with respect to potential admixture. Other explanations for the lack of Neanderthal lineages in the modern mtDNA gene pool, in particular genetic drift, can also explain the results, especially as the conclusions are based on the analysis of one haploid locus, the mtDNA. Further analysis will provide a better view of the Neanderthal gene pool, but the number of potential samples is limited: in total 70 sites have yielded Neanderthal bones (Klein 2003). Many of the sites, particularly those from southern Europe, do not show good molecular preservation (Cooper et al. 1997; Smith et al. 2003). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]