Their DNA survives in diverse populations across the world – but who were the Denisovans?
Raw StoryIt started with a finger bone found in a cave in the Altai mountains in Siberia in the late 2000s. Modern humans later evolved in Africa, spread across the globe, and encountered Neanderthals, Denisovans and possibly other unknown archaic human groups. These immune-related genes might have played crucial roles in protecting ancient and modern humans from south and east Asia, the Americas and Papua New Guinea against specific pathogens, illustrating how Denisovan heritage continues to affect human health today. We know that at least four distinct Denisovan populations interbred with modern humans. Additionally, studying Denisovan ancestry in populations beyond east Asia and Oceania, such as Indigenous Americans, could shed light on exactly which Denisovan sources have contributed to modern humans genomes.
History of this topic
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The Hindu
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