Current Biology Vol 16 No 16

ago [12]; however, the standard error is 65,000 years at these sample sizes. The MLS sequence documents a greater diversity among the European Neandertals than previously estimated. In particular, the MLS and MEZ sequences appear separated from a cluster of sequences from Germany and Croatia. All sequences in the cluster share two derived alleles, 16078G and 16154C. The analysis of Neandertal genetic diversity confirms that Neandertals were separated from modern humans by several fixed mtDNA differences. However, their internal diversity was rather large. Even members of the same population, such as FE1 and FE2, could differ substantially, and haplotypes in geographically extreme populations also seem to be genetically differentiated. This raises questions concerning the demographic and evolutionary history of Neandertals