Topic A: Researching Human Ancestry

Fully answer the two questions below. Please use evidence to support your answers; and cite all sources used in your answers.

(1) What are the advantages of using mitochondrial DNA and Y-chromosome DNA to trace human ancestries? How do molecular genetics complement or dispute the fossil (morphological) evidence of human evolution? Please explain your answer and provide specific examples.

(2) Do Neanderthals represent a direct ancestor to modern humans? What does the recent genetic evidence indicate about the role of Neanderthal as human ancestor?