Final answer:
Richard E. Green and colleagues were the first to isolate an entire Neanderthal nuclear genome in 2010, comparing the sequence with modern humans and suggesting interbreeding between Neanderthals and early modern humans.
Step-by-step explanation:
Richard E. Green et al. were the researchers responsible for isolating an entire Neanderthal nuclear genome. In 2010, they published a groundbreaking paper detailing the draft sequence of the Neanderthal genome. This research was significant as Neanderthals are the closest extinct relatives to present-day humans. The Neanderthal genome project employed advanced sample preparation and DNA sequencing techniques due to the fragile nature of the bones and heavy microbial contamination. Green's team managed to sequence about four billion base pairs, which were then compared with the genomes of contemporary human populations across the world.
The findings revealed that the Neanderthal genome was 2 to 3 percent more similar to people living outside of Africa than to people within Africa. These results suggest there may have been some level of interbreeding between early modern humans and Neanderthals. The study also highlighted that DNA segments among Europeans and Asians have greater similarities to Neanderthal sequences, indicating an exchange of genetic material as modern humans migrated out of Africa.