What evidence has led scientists to conclude that Neandertals differ more from modern humans than any one modern group differs from any other?

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Mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) studies have shown that the genetic distance between Neanderthals and modern humans is greater than the genetic distance between any two modern human groups. This is because Neanderthals and modern humans last shared a common ancestor around 500,000 years ago, while modern human groups diverged much more recently (within the last 100,000 years). Skeletal, nuclear DNA, and dental evidence also contribute to our understanding of Neanderthal biology and evolution, but mtDNA provides the most compelling evidence for their unique genetic distance from modern humans.

What Evidence Has Led Scientists to Conclude That Neandertals Differ