German Researchers Publish Full Neanderthal Genome

Researchers in Germany have completed the first high-quality sequencing of a Neanderthal genome.

The scientific data gleaned from remains of a Neanderthal toe bone found in a Siberian cave are being made freely available online.

The Max Planck Institute for Evolutionary Anthropology in Leipzig said in a statement Tuesday the high quality of the genome meant its scientists were already able to determine which parts of DNA were inherited from its mother and father.

This is a significant improvement on a previous "draft" Neanderthal genome produced three years ago by the same team, led by Svante Paabo.

Paabo said the group hopes to publish a scientific paper on the Neanderthal genome later this year.