DNA Analysis Suggests Humans Interbred With Denisovans 157
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.
Listen... (Score:2, Informative)
Humans have tried to interbreed with just about every species imaginable. Sheep, for instance. And, when drunk, even animals which sometimes predate upon humans. So I have no doubt that modern humans have interbred with Denisovan babes. We are some seriously horny, depraved bastards.
Denisovans are not exinct (Score:5, Informative)
Many Melanesians, Indonesians, Malays, Polynesians, Filipinos, as well as indigenous tribe on island of Taiwan, have Denisovan genes in them
In fact, this isn't news anymore
Back in 2010 there have been reports of similar findings. Here's one report from the BBC -
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-12059564 [bbc.co.uk]