Neanderthals Author: [Sweden] Svante Pääbo Publisher: Zhejiang Education Publishing House Translator: Xia Zhi/ Yang Huanming

Written by Svante Pääbo, 2022 Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine

Re-exploring the path of human evolution using modern molecular methods.

Between the theoretical debates of "Out of Africa" ​​and "Multi-regional Origins", we continue to question the origin, evolution and future of "what it means to be human".

◎ Editor's Recommendation

From extracting DNA from ancient Egyptian mummies to sequencing the entire genome of Neanderthals;

From the individual actions during the Cold War to the anecdotes of exchanges in the context of global collaboration;

First-hand memories of the founder of the ancient DNA field and the three-dimensional life of a frontline scientific researcher.

◎ Introduction

In 1856, three years before Darwin published "The Origin of Species", workers cleaning a quarry found a skull and some bones in the Neander Valley, about 10 kilometers east of Düsseldorf, Germany. A few years later, these remains were identified as belonging to an extinct ancient human - Neanderthals. Who were they? Did they, who disappeared about 30,000 years ago, mix with modern humans? Do we still have the ancient genes of Neanderthals in our bodies?

The author of this book, Svante Pääbo, boldly and rigorously explored the above questions through ancient DNA technology. "Neanderthals" is not only his first-hand industry record of the rise and maturity of the field of ancient DNA, but also interweaves the wonderful experience of a scientific researcher who sincerely faces confusion, failure, doubt, success and more unknowns. From ancient Egyptian mummies to obtaining the first Neanderthal mitochondrial DNA sequence, to publishing the first Neanderthal genome draft; from conducting experiments without telling the mentor, to going to East Germany to obtain samples during the Cold War, to anecdotes of exchanges in the context of global scientific research collaboration - Pääbo's more than 30 years of exploration in the field of ancient DNA, between the debates on the "Out of Africa" ​​and "Multi-regional Origin" theories, opened the prelude to studying how ancient gene mutations affect modern human physiology, and also witnessed the growth of a medical student who was curious about ancient Egyptology to the organizer of human evolution research projects. Please follow this book to trace the origins and explore how we became human beings and what makes us human beings.

◎ Media Recommendation

Pääbo provides us with a first-person account of the fascinating developments in paleogenetics research and the technological innovations that made the field possible.

--"science"

Neanderthals shows the history of the development of a new scientific field.

— Carl Zimmer, The New York Times Book Review

If there is one person whose name is bound up with ancient DNA, it is Svante Pääbo…Neanderthals is timely and well-written. A must-read.

--"nature"

◎ Celebrity recommendation

This is a classic book written by a legendary scientist. Every time I meet Dr. Svante Paabo, I can feel his passion. I believe this book will bring you an extraordinary journey of tracing your ancestors.

——Zhou Zhonghe, Academician of the Chinese Academy of Sciences

Paabo uses a fascinating style to tell the wonderful story of how the genes of European "Neanderthals" flowed into the studies of modern people around the world; it seems incredible, but it is actually reasonable. Interestingly, the Xuchang fossils discovered in my country in recent years have developed organ structures unique to "Neanderthals", which is thought-provoking. The marriage of genetics and paleontology will accurately depict the walking trajectory of modern ancestors: is it "out of Africa", "originated in multiple places", or "integrated while walking"?

—— Shu Degan, Academician of the Chinese Academy of Sciences

If you want to understand the history of human evolution and how scientists decipher this process, "Neanderthals" is definitely one of the best choices.

——Xu Xing, researcher at the Institute of Vertebrate Paleontology and Paleoanthropology, Chinese Academy of Sciences

Through this unique window of Neanderthals, we can peek into the past course of human evolution. If you want to know what made us who we are today, perhaps you can read this book.

—— Xing Lida, Associate Professor, China University of Geosciences (Beijing)

Only by understanding where we come from can we know where we are going. A careful review of human history will lead to a better tomorrow.

—— Wang Shi, Honorary Chairman of the Board of Directors of Vanke Group

What did our ancestors look like? Why did we become what we are today? How many ups and downs did we go through? What lessons can we learn from them? Read Neanderthals! Only by understanding the past can we better look forward to the future.

——Xu Xiaoping, founder of ZhenFund

How do scientists use DNA clues to find and solve cases? This "scientific adventure" that reconstructs the history of human evolution can give us the answers we want.

—— Li Changyu, criminal forensics expert

What makes humans unique? Scientists have been persistently searching for Neanderthal DNA, using technology to open a door for us to look back at the history of human evolution. What made humans what they are today? You may understand after reading this book.

—— Huang Xiaoming, actor

◎ Award information

★Selected in the 2018 "Most Beautiful Science Reading" list of "Global Science"

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