A groundbreaking study published in Science has revealed that humans almost went extinct 930,000 years ago due to a severe population bottleneck caused by climatic upheavals and harsh survival challenges. The research used a novel computational approach called FitCoal to analyze modern human genomic data from 3,154 individuals, shedding light on an ancient bottleneck that narrowed the population to approximately 1,280 breeding individuals for 117,000 years.
This period, known as the Early Stone Age, was marked by significant loss of fossil evidence, with only a few clues left behind. The study suggests that environmental pressures may have driven adaptations that were pivotal to the development of traits distinguishing modern humans, including cognitive abilities. Researchers believe that control of fire and gradual shifts towards more hospitable climates may have played roles in sustaining this fragile group.
The findings offer crucial insights into human evolution during the Early to Middle Pleistocene transition and highlight the importance of natural selection during this period. The research provides a foundation for future studies that could uncover even more about our species’ origins, including the geographic locations of early humans and their survival strategies.
Source: https://www.thebrighterside.news/post/humans-almost-went-extinct-930000-years-ago-study-finds