Illustration of a teenage girl who is the offspring of a Neanderthal mother and Denisovan father
JOHN BAVARO FINE ART/SCIENCE PHOTO LIBRARY
Researchers have made a groundbreaking discovery by obtaining the complete genome of a Denisovan, an ancient human group that resided in Asia. The DNA was extracted from a single 200,000-year-old tooth discovered in a Siberian cave.
The analysis of the genome unveiled the existence of at least three distinct populations of Denisovans with varied histories. It also indicated that early Denisovans interbred with an unknown group of ancient humans and a previously unidentified population of Neanderthals.
According to David Reich from Harvard University, this study represents a significant breakthrough in understanding Denisovans. Samantha Brown from the National Research Center on Human Evolution in Spain also expressed her astonishment at the findings.
DNA analysis of Denisovans has been crucial in shedding light on their interactions with modern humans. The discovery of Denisovan DNA in populations from South-East Asia, such as the Philippines and Papua New Guinea, demonstrates interbreeding between Denisovans and modern humans.
Although several Denisovan specimens have been identified in East Asia since the initial reports in 2010, only a few have yielded fragments of DNA. In 2020, a team led by Stéphane Peyrégne at the Max Planck Institute for Evolutionary Anthropology sequenced a complete genome from a male Denisovan’s molar tooth found in Denisova cave.
Through genetic comparisons, the researchers estimated that the individual lived approximately 205,000 years ago, providing insights into an earlier stage of Denisovan history compared to previous findings. The study also suggested the presence of at least three discrete Denisovan populations over time.
The genome analysis unveiled repeated interbreeding between Denisovans and Neanderthals, including a Neanderthal group not previously sequenced. Additionally, evidence of interbreeding with an unidentified group of ancient humans raises questions about the diversity of hominin populations in the past.
The study highlights the complex interactions between different ancient human groups and emphasizes the need for further research to unravel the mysteries of our evolutionary history.
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