An international consortium of researchers has sequenced the genome of our closest relative, the Neandertal.

In a paper released inScience on May 7, 2010 the team reports the sequencing of an initial draft of the genome. The sequence was generated from several Neandertal fossils from Croatia, Germany, Spain and Russia using high-throughput sequencing technologies.

Results indicate that Neandertals are slightly more closely related to modern humans outside Africa. The team also identified several genomic regions that appear to have played an important role during human evolution.

• Press release (Max Planck Society) "The Neandertal in us" (07 May 2010) [pdf]
• Press kit including images
• Science video: The Neandertal in us (14.07.2010)
• "A draft sequence and preliminary analysis of the Neandertal genome" (Green, R.E. et al., SCIENCE, 07 May 2010)