5.3 gb of neanderthal dna sequence has been generated.
It is believed that mutations in their mitochondrial DNA might have led to their extinction
The analysis suggests that Neanderthals share a mitochondrial `Eve' about 660,000 year ago when they probably split rom other humans.
They were lactose-intolorant.
The researchers at the Max-Planck Institue have read 4% so far of the neanderthal genome, and hope to complete the whole genome by end of year.
Five neanderthal mitochondrial genomes have been sequenced,the team led by svante paabo at the max planck institue sequenced over 16,000 mitochondrial bases of which only 55 bases only differed among rhe six samples.
It has been calculated that there may have only been only 3,500 breeding female neanderthal at any one time.
Project leader Svante paabo is to announce preliminary results on 12 February 2009.
He says his group will publish a first draft of the genome later this year(2009).
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Researchers have discovered that up to 4% of non-africans DNA is from neanderthals.
Such genetics exchanges propably took places in the fertile crescent.
One gene discovered is the HLA*0702 which is common in europeans and asians
Researchers have found differences between neanderthals and modern humans in genes concerned with metabolism,skin and skeleton.
Researchers have found an ABO group locus and a taste receptor gene.
Genes possibly originating from interbreeding with neanderthals include:
HLA-A*02-C*07:02,HLA-A*26-C*16:02,HLA-A*66-1602 which has its highest frequencies where the burmese,chinese and indian border meet.
HLA-C*1505 possibly may have passed from neanderthals to modern human populations in the area between the nile delta,northern saudi arabia and cicilia in turkey.
(perhaps some of the people mentioned in the bible had this gene).
Also present in about 2-3% of the essaouira-tangiers costal area which was a neanderthal outlier area.
