New technique pinpoints human DNA inherited from 'ghost' ancestors
UC Berkeley researchers have developed a new technique called TRACE to identify DNA inherited from 'ghost' archaic human ancestors. The study reveals that modern humans carry approximately 1% of DNA from these unknown lineages, which diverged from the human line around 800,000 years ago.
Why it matters
Advances our understanding of human evolutionary history and the complex interbreeding patterns of ancient hominins.
edited by Gaby Clark , reviewed by Robert Egan
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Add as preferred source Using genealogical relationships in DNA, TRACE uncovers hidden contributions from extinct human populations that left no sequenced genomes. Credit: Meaghan Marohn, https://meaghanmarohn.wordpress.com/ UC Berkeley researchers have identified regions of DNA that humans inherited from two unknown ancestors as a result of long-ago interbreeding among modern humans and at least four other archaic human relatives.
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