Question

The mitochondrial DNA study (Fig 24.8 on page 492) indicated that there was no genetic input from Neanderthals in modern humans, but the whole-genome study (see page 494) suggests that in fact there was. One suggestion to explain this discrepancy is that the Neanderthal input into modern human populations was from males only. Which of the following strategies could be employed to test this hypothesis?

A. Look at genomic DNA only in modern humans that are male.
B. Look at genomic DNA only in modern humans that are females.
C. Look at the Y chromosome because it is paternally inherited.
D. Look at the X chromosome because that can be inherited from either parent.

Answer 1

C. Look at the Y chromosome because it is paternally inherited.

Step-by-step explanation:

According to the given information, mitochondrial DNA study reveals that Neanderthals did not impart any genetic sequences in modern humans but the study of the whole genome contradicts it.

Mitochondrial DNA is maternally inherited, if whole-genome studies show the input of genetic sequences from Neanderthals in modern humans, the male Neanderthals might have shared some sequences with modern humans. In human, the Y chromosome is inherited from father to son.

So, if only male Neanderthals share common genes with modern humans, the study of genes present on the Y chromosome could reflect the sequence homology between the two. If there is no sequence homology between them for the genes of Y chromosomes, the hypothesis that male Neanderthals have imparted gene sequences in modern humans should be rejected.