DNA Analysis Suggests Humans Interbred With Denisovans

ananyo writes "Tens of thousands of years ago modern humans crossed paths with the group of hominins known as the Neandertals. Researchers now think they also met another, less-known group called the Denisovans. The only trace that we have found, however, is a single finger bone and two teeth, but those fragments have been enough to cradle wisps of Denisovan DNA across thousands of years inside a Siberian cave. Now a team of scientists has been able to reconstruct their entire genome from these meager fragments. The analysis supports the idea that Neandertals and Denisovans were more closely related to one another than either was to modern humans and also suggests new ways that early humans may have spread across the globe." wombatmobile linked to an article that focuses on the new techniques used to sequence the DNA of the bone fragments in question.

Considering...

[camperdave]

Considering what I've seen on the net, it doesn't surprise me in the least that H.Sapiens has interbred with anything and everything. The only surprising element would be whether or not there were offspring.

Denisovans Extinct?

[Jeremiah Cornelius]

I beg to differ. The Denisovan's were our next-door neighbors, when I was in grade-school.

Re:Denisovans Extinct?

[okcdan]

Kind of dating yourself there Jeremiah. I do applaud older folks who embrace technology like the interwebs though, congrats!

Re:Denisovans Extinct?

[Jeremiah Cornelius]

Carbon dating myself....

Alyson Hannigan

[tdelaney]

Alyson Hannigan is modern-day proof of homo sapiens interbreeding with Denisovans.

Re:Denisovans Extinct?

[jamstar7]

Carbon dating myself....

Nope. Just dating yourself ;)

Strange, he didn't mention he's from Arkansas...