Neanderthal DNA: not just old

but old and cold?

A. Cooper; M.J. Collins; C.I. Smith; A.T. Chamberlain; M.S. Riley; C.B. Stringer

doi:10.1038/35071177

Neanderthal DNA: not just old but old and cold?

A. Cooper, M.J. Collins, C.I. Smith, A.T. Chamberlain, M.S. Riley, C.B. Stringer

Archaeology

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

Abstract

[First paragraph]The successful retrieval of ancient DNA from two geographically dispersed Neanderthal skeletons has fuelled a demand for more Neanderthal DNA sequences for analysis. However, these exceptionally well-preserved specimens were geologically young and the mean annual temperature of their cave sites low, so the survival of this ancient DNA could have been due to unusually favourable conditions. Here we calculate the thermal history of a range of Holocene and Pleistocene bones whose DNA quality has been tested and find that in only very few sites with Neanderthal remains is the preservation of DNA likely to match the quality of that from the skeleton found at Mezmaiskaya Cave. We recommend that any additional Neanderthal destined for destructive analysis should be carefully selected, taking into account its integrated thermal history.

Original language	English
Pages (from-to)	771-772
Number of pages	1
Journal	Nature
Volume	410
Issue number	6830
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1038/35071177
Publication status	Published - 12 Apr 2001

Bibliographical note

Access to Document

10.1038/35071177

collinsmj2_.pdf

http://dx.doi.org/10.1038/35071177

Cite this

@article{6a8a1e1153104921bdf29ab0f394cfc3,

title = "Neanderthal DNA: not just old but old and cold?",

abstract = "[First paragraph]The successful retrieval of ancient DNA from two geographically dispersed Neanderthal skeletons has fuelled a demand for more Neanderthal DNA sequences for analysis. However, these exceptionally well-preserved specimens were geologically young and the mean annual temperature of their cave sites low, so the survival of this ancient DNA could have been due to unusually favourable conditions. Here we calculate the thermal history of a range of Holocene and Pleistocene bones whose DNA quality has been tested and find that in only very few sites with Neanderthal remains is the preservation of DNA likely to match the quality of that from the skeleton found at Mezmaiskaya Cave. We recommend that any additional Neanderthal destined for destructive analysis should be carefully selected, taking into account its integrated thermal history.",

author = "A. Cooper and M.J. Collins and C.I. Smith and A.T. Chamberlain and M.S. Riley and C.B. Stringer",

note = "{\textcopyright} 2001 Macmillan Magazines Ltd",

year = "2001",

month = apr,

day = "12",

doi = "10.1038/35071177",

language = "English",

volume = "410",

pages = "771--772",

journal = "Nature",

issn = "0028-0836",

publisher = "Nature Publishing Group",

number = "6830",

}

TY - JOUR

T1 - Neanderthal DNA: not just old but old and cold?

AU - Cooper, A.

AU - Collins, M.J.

AU - Smith, C.I.

AU - Chamberlain, A.T.

AU - Riley, M.S.

AU - Stringer, C.B.

PY - 2001/4/12

Y1 - 2001/4/12

N2 - [First paragraph]The successful retrieval of ancient DNA from two geographically dispersed Neanderthal skeletons has fuelled a demand for more Neanderthal DNA sequences for analysis. However, these exceptionally well-preserved specimens were geologically young and the mean annual temperature of their cave sites low, so the survival of this ancient DNA could have been due to unusually favourable conditions. Here we calculate the thermal history of a range of Holocene and Pleistocene bones whose DNA quality has been tested and find that in only very few sites with Neanderthal remains is the preservation of DNA likely to match the quality of that from the skeleton found at Mezmaiskaya Cave. We recommend that any additional Neanderthal destined for destructive analysis should be carefully selected, taking into account its integrated thermal history.

AB - [First paragraph]The successful retrieval of ancient DNA from two geographically dispersed Neanderthal skeletons has fuelled a demand for more Neanderthal DNA sequences for analysis. However, these exceptionally well-preserved specimens were geologically young and the mean annual temperature of their cave sites low, so the survival of this ancient DNA could have been due to unusually favourable conditions. Here we calculate the thermal history of a range of Holocene and Pleistocene bones whose DNA quality has been tested and find that in only very few sites with Neanderthal remains is the preservation of DNA likely to match the quality of that from the skeleton found at Mezmaiskaya Cave. We recommend that any additional Neanderthal destined for destructive analysis should be carefully selected, taking into account its integrated thermal history.

U2 - 10.1038/35071177

DO - 10.1038/35071177

M3 - Article

SN - 0028-0836

VL - 410

SP - 771

EP - 772

JO - Nature

JF - Nature

IS - 6830

ER -