Putting flesh to the bones: A Homo neanderthalensis skull discovered in 1908 at la Chapelle aux saints, France.
Credit: Wikimedia
Ancient language skills
Following his presentation, Pääbo told a gaggle of researchers that about 100,000 years is as old as meaningful ancient DNA sequencing will likely be able to delve back into the past.
His team is also continuing to focus research on the FOXP2 gene, which is associated with speech in modern humans. Research is showing that Neanderthal and modern humans alike carry the same FOXP2 factors.
As part of their studies, Pääbo's team were able to introduce human FOXP2 genes into mice. With the help of Julia Fischer from the German Primate Centre for Cognitive Ethology and the German Mouse Clinic in Munich, the studies revealed that these mice have more caution in moving into open areas than their peers and also have altered vocalization.
Pääbo said that building a "mouse model" of Neanderthal genes might lend greater clues into how our missing relative would have behaved.
Where are they getting the samples?
According to the story they are getting the sample from fossilised bones. I wouldn't have thought there was that much DNA in them. Sure not enough to be meaningful. Can we really trust the outcome of this sequencing?