Question

Choose the correct answers from the alternatives given:
The possibility that the Neanderthals did not interbreed extensively with modern humans is supported by evidence that shows

• A. The two groups did not coexist at the same time Neanderthals died out before modem humans first appeared
• B. The two groups have been shown to have very different gene pools
• C. The uniformity of human mitochondrial DNA may point to the origin of all modern humans from a very small splinter population
• D. Fossil evidence shows that modern humans evolved in Africa, whereas Neanderthals lived in Eurasia

Answer 1

Answer: (C)

The uniformity of human mitochondrial DNA may point to the origin of all modern humans from a very small splinter population

In 1997, the genetic evidence was extended to prehistoric samples with the successful extraction of a mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) sequence from the European Neandertal specimen from Feldhofer Cave in Germany. Since then, Neandertal mtDNA has also been extracted from Neandertal specimens from Mezmaiskaya Cave in the northern Caucasus and from Vindija Cave, Croatia. These studies noted the difference between the mtDNA of Neandertals and living humans, and they suggested that these differences reflect separate species status for the Neandertals. This also suggested that most likely humans evolved from a small splinter population that didn't interbreed extensively with modern humans.

Hence, the correct answer is 'The uniformity of human mitochondrial DNA may point to the origin of all modern humans from a very small splinter population'.