Issues from Neandertal genomics: Diversity, adaptation and hybridisation revised from the El Sidrón case study

Abstract

The rapid accumulation of genetic data from Neandertals is gaining more and more scientific value, shedding light on different aspects of their evolution. This information allows testing of hypotheses previously generated with evidence from morphology, archaeology, paleoclimatology and chronology. The retrieval of six Neandertal complete mitochondrial (mtDNA) genomes indicates they had a very low genetic diversity, lower than that seen in modern Europeans. The retrieval of several nuclear genes from the El Sidrón (Asturias, Spain) site has provided information on different cognitive, phenotypical, immunological and taste perception aspects of their adaptation. The recent publication of the Neandertal genome draft will help clarify their similarities and differences with modern humans. It also suggests the existence of gene flow from Neandertals to modern humans after the out of Africa migration of the latter. This hypothesis will need to be tested in the future with the analysis of more ancient and modern hominin genomes. © 2010 Elsevier Ltd and INQUA.