Scientists have made a groundbreaking discovery about the Denisovans, a previously unknown hominin group that interbred with modern humans. The study suggests that individuals of this group passed on their genes to modern humans through multiple distinct events, shaping early human history.
In 2010, researchers compared the Neanderthal genome with that of modern humans and found evidence of interbreeding in the past. Later, analysis of a finger bone from a Denisova cave in Siberia revealed that it belonged to a new hominin group, which has since been named Denisovans.
“This discovery is one of the most exciting in human evolution over the last decade,” said Dr. Linda Ongaro, lead author of a review article published in Nature Genetics. “We’ve long believed that humans evolved suddenly and neatly from a single common ancestor, but this new research shows that interbreeding with different hominins occurred and helped shape the people we are today.”
Researchers found evidence of at least three past events where genes from distinct Denisovan populations entered modern human genomes. These findings suggest that multiple Denisovan populations had an extensive geographical range, adapting to different environments.
The study identified several genes of Denisovan origin that provided advantages in various environments. For example, a genetic locus confers tolerance to low oxygen conditions, which is seen in Tibetan populations. Additionally, researchers found genes that confer heightened immunity and impact lipid metabolism, providing heat when stimulated by cold, an advantage for Inuit populations in the Arctic.
The study’s authors highlight several future research directions, including more detailed genetic analyses in understudied populations and integrating genetic data with archaeological information to uncover hidden traces of Denisovan ancestry.
Source: https://phys.org/news/2024-11-insights-denisovans-hominin-group-interbred.html