WIKIMEDIA, LUNA04Researchers at Stanford have analyzed the sequence of a Neanderthal Y chromosome from a specimen found in Spain, and the findings reveal what may have kept the lineage separate from modern humans, according to a study published today (April 7) in The American Journal of Human Genetics.

“Characterizing the Neanderthal Y chromosome helps us to better understand the population divergence that led to Neanderthals and modern humans,” study coauthor Fernando Mendez of Stanford said in a statement. “It also enables us to explore possible genetic interactions between archaic and modern [gene] variants within hybrid offspring.”

Using data from a public database, Mendez, along with study coauthor Carlos Bustamante, also of Stanford, and colleagues analyzed the Y chromosome sequence of a 49,000-year-old Neanderthal specimen from El Sidrón, Spain, comparing it with modern human and chimpanzee chromosomes. The researchers found that the ancestor of Neanderthal...