Original: In 1997, Mark Stoneking stated: "These results (based on mitochondrial DNA extracted from Neanderthal bone) indicate that Neanderthals did not contribute mitochondrial DNA to modern humansâ Neanderthals are not our ancestors".
Simplified: In 1997, Dr. Mark Stoneking, then an associate professor of anthropology at Pennsylvania State University, stated: "These results (based on mitochondrial DNA extracted from Neanderthal bone) indicate that Neanderthals did not contribute mitochondrial DNA to modern humansâ Neanderthals are not our ancestors."