Humans Also Mated with Extinct Species Beyond Neanderthals
Historical Interbreeding: Denisovans Significantly Impacted Modern Human Evolution
For over a century, scientists have been examining the fossilized remains of Neanderthals, the first ancient human species discovered. However, it wasn't until the late 1900s and early 2000s that Neanderthals were confirmed to share mitochondrial DNA with modern humans (Homo sapiens).
In 2008, a significant discovery took place at the Denisova Cave in Siberia's Altai mountains. This finding unveiled a new human species, later named the Denisovans. Further investigations highlighted that Denisovans, like their Neanderthal cousins, had interbred with modern humans.
Emilia Huerta-Sanchez, Associate Professor of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology at Brown University, and Dr. Linda Ongaro, a Postdoctoral Research Fellow at Trinity College Dublin, made a groundbreaking discovery about Denisovans' genetic influence on modern humans. Their research, published in Nature Genetics in November 2024, revealed similarities in the genetic signatures at three distinct periods in early human civilization.
The scientists found evidence of contacts between Denisovan and modern human lineages around 46,000, 30,000, and potentially 15,000 years ago. Dr. Ongaro emphasized, "It's a common misconception that humans evolved in a neat linear progression from a single common ancestor. Our research shows that interbreeding with different hominins, such as Denisovans, played a significant role in shaping modern humans."
研究人员研究地球生命史ès时, 已确认Neanderthalés livingés 28,000 to 300,000 years ago, coexisted with Homo sapiens for extended periods before they became extinct. 由于仅找到Denisovans的一个指尖骨头,
In the realm of medical-conditions and health-and-wellness, recent research has uncovered that Denisovans, an extinct human species, significantly contributed to shaping the genetic make-up of modern humans through interbreeding episodes around 46,000, 30,000, and potentially 15,000 years ago. Furthermore, this interbreeding event has extended implications in environmental-science, particularly in the study of space-and-astronomy as it challenges the linear understanding of human evolution.
