Traces of ancestors found in DNA
Researchers have developed a new method to analyze modern human DNA to identify previously unknown ancestral lineages. By working backward from living genomes, scientists uncovered evidence of two 'ghost' populations that interbred with early humans.
Why it matters
This discovery provides deeper insight into human evolutionary history and helps explain the genetic diversity found in modern populations.
Clues emerging from DNA could unlock the mystery of human ancestors that are missing from the fossil record yet present in the genes of people living today. Scientists found evidence years ago that our species, Homo sapiens, had interbred with now-extinct human relatives, including Neanderthals and Denisovans. But some lineages have been difficult to identify, because — unlike Neanderthals and Denisovans, whose DNA has been recovered from prehistoric remains — they are essentially genetic “ghosts,” with no DNA proof of their existence to compare with the hints spotted in our genomes. While previous studies have discovered remnants of the ghost lineages, they could not determine when the interbreeding happened or how far back these lineages diverged from the ancestors of modern humans.
Get smarter about the news
Sign up free for a feed built around what you actually care about, Dive Deeper research on any story, and the full text of every article.
Create free accountAlready have an account? Sign in