Man and Neanderthal... in love?

In recent years, fossils with features from both have been found, but now science is about to say for sure.

We're on the verge of mapping the Neathderthal gene that could show interbreeding contributed to our genetic variation today.

While trysts between animals such as horses and zebras, and lions and tigers, bear infants, the offspring have always been infertile.

So the big question is whether the children of man and Neanthderthal could themselves breed.

Prof Paabo is currently going through Neanderthal fossils with a fine tooth comb to see if any of man's DNA pops up.

However, if we're 'part caveman' the traces of Neanderthal DNA would be so diluted as to be undetectable.

As mentioned in last week's blog, our big-browed cousins are at the top of the list when it comes to recreating species long since gone.

This might be a little dangerous. We won the first 'war' of evolution. Whose to say we'd be the champs after a second round?

Weird Science Factoid: If you buy a lottery ticket on Monday you are a hundred times more likely to die before the draw is held on Wednesday than win the jackpot. Best to buy it on the Wednesday then!

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