Estimate How Much Neanderthal Is In Your Ancestry!

Created in response to the phenomenal interest generated by the revelation in scientific journals on May 8, 2010 that most humans are part Neanderthal (Green et al), our autosomal DNA Neanderthal Index can be added to your DNA Fingerprint Test or DNA Fingerprint Plus. It reports any strong matches you have with populations identified as Archaic, those preserving the earliest earmarks of interbreeding between Neanderthals and humans (Homo sapiens sapiens). The stronger the match the higher the likelihood that your ancestors gave you Neanderthal genes.

You receive a detailed list of population matches with Berber, Finnish, Indian, Turkish, Syrian, Iraqi, Egyptian and other Archaic Populations; an interpretive analysis highlighting your Neanderthal affinities; map of Neanderthal homelands; references and suggestions for further reading; and a certificate displaying your result.

Note that this test does not directly examine your genetic material. Only a large-scale genomic sequencing procedure like the Human Genome Project or Draft Neanderthal Genome can do that. The Neanderthal Index is based on probabilistic predictions of the occurrence of your unique DNA Fingerprint in Archaic Populations retaining Neanderthal genomics and traits.

Sample Neanderthal Index for Jane Doe

Neanderthal Q&As

This product can only be added to the DNA Fingerprint Test or DNA Fingerprint Plus. It cannot be ordered as a stand-alone test unless you already have your DNA fingerprint test results (CODIS marker scores).

Read the original press release from the Max Planck Institute for Evolutionary Anthropology in Leipzig. It was embargoed for May 6, 2010, 8 p.m.

Photo:  Reconstruction of a Neanderthal group. (Copyright: Johannes Krause). Neandertal group by Atelier Daynes, Paris, France. In: Museum of the Krapina Neanderthals, Krapina, Croatia. Project and realization of the Museum: Zeljko Kovacic and Jakov Radovcic.