Images Dated 27th February 1998

Preparing neanderthal bones for DNA extraction

MODEL RELEASED. Neanderthal genetics. Technician prepares a sample of bone from a fossil of a neanderthal human, Homo sapiens neanderthalis, for an analysis of its DNA genetic material. Neander- thals were early humans who lived in Europe and the Middle East from 100, 000 to 30, 000 years ago. Compared to modern humans, neanderthals had a relatively large face with a sloping forehead, brow ridge and no chin. It has been suggested that neanderthals were the ancestors of modern Europ- eans. Comparisons of DNA extracted from neander- thal fossils with modern DNA have shown that they were unlikely to have been. Photographed in Svante Paabo's laboratory at Munich University, Germany

© VOLKER STEGER/SCIENCE PHOTO LIBRARY