Scientists Sequence Neanderthal Genome For First Time

Biochemist predicts that nuclear DNA sequences will show Neanderthals did not evolve into modern humans

To: National Desk

Contact: Kathleen Campbell, Campbell Public Relations, 719-540-6022

NEWS ADVISORY, June 01, 2006, /Christian Wire Service/ -- At the Biology of Genomes meeting held recently at New York's Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory, scientific teams from the Max Plank Institute for Evolutionary Anthropology in Leipzig, Germany and the Joint Genome Institute in Walnut Creek, California reported on the first-ever Neanderthal nuclear DNA sequences.

These researchers sequenced about 1 million base pairs, or genetic letters, of the Neanderthal genome for a 45,000-year-old male specimen recovered from the Vindija Cave near Zagreb, Croatia.

"This work is incredible. There is no other way to put it," says biochemist Fazale 'Fuz' Rana, PhD, and author of the Amazon.com best-seller, Who Was Adam.

In Who Was Adam, a book which examines human origins from a scientific and biblical perspective, Rana and co-author astronomer Hugh Ross present the first scientific model for creation that is fully testable and predictive.

"Our theory maintains that there is no evolutionary connection between Neanderthals and modern humans," states Ross. "If this is the case, then Neanderthals should prove to be genetically distinct from modern humans -- precisely why this new research on the nuclear DNA of Neanderthals is so vitally important."

According to Dr. Rana, previous studies of Neanderthal mitochondrial DNA sequences already suggest that the creation model's predictions about Neanderthals are correct.

"The results of Neanderthal mitochondrial DNA analyses are compelling. Still, these DNA sequences constitute a small, specialized fraction of Neanderthal DNA," cautions Rana. "With the Neanderthal genome in hand, we will be able to definitively test the predictions of our creation model."

Even though scientists have only sequenced about 0.03% of the Neanderthal genome, they hope to generate the DNA sequence for most of the Neanderthal genome soon. Dr. Rana is one of many scientists anticipating the future prospects for this research.

"Having the Neanderthal genome will prove invaluable," continues Rana. "These DNA sequences will give us greater clarity about the identity of Neanderthals and provide an invaluable opportunity to test different theories for humanity's origin."

"My sense is that when the Neanderthal genome is analyzed it will show, once and for all, that Neanderthals did not evolve into modern humans," predicts Rana.