Cloning Neanderthal

Scientist with Neanderthal skull.

Harvard Medical School professor George Church, 58 – pioneer in synthetic biology who helped initiate the Human Genome Project that mapped our DNA – believes he can reconstruct Neanderthal DNA and resurrect the species. His analysis of Neanderthal genetic code using samples from bones is complete enough to reconstruct their DNA, but Professor Church’s ambitious plan requires a human volunteer. As he puts it . .

"It depends on a hell of a lot of things, but I think it can be done. Now I need an adventurous female human."

Professor Church’s plans to create Neanderthal DNA artificially based on genetic code found in fossil remains. This DNA would then go into stem cells, which would be injected into cells from a human embryo. The stem cells would steer the development of the hybrid embryo on Neanderthal lines, rather than human ones – at least that's the hope. After growing in the lab for a few days, the ‘neo-Neanderthal’ embryo would be implanted in the womb of a surrogate mother – the human volunteer.

To volunteer, go here.