Researchers identify traces of two ‘ghost’ ancestors in modern human DNA
TRACE found DNA from two ghost lineages, including one that may account for 0.5% to 1% of some modern genomes, researchers said.
- Researchers developed a computer-based method called TRACE to analyze modern human genomes, uncovering evidence of two previously unknown ancestral lineages by working backward from DNA in living people.
- Scientists previously found evidence that modern humans interbred with Neanderthals and Denisovans, but other ancient lineages remained difficult to identify because they are essentially genetic "ghosts" with no DNA proof of their existence.
- One lineage interbred with humans in Africa more than 50,000 years ago, while an older "super-archaic" ancestor traces back roughly 1.8 million years, though DNA has not been recovered for either group.
- DNA from the African lineage makes up about 0.5% to 1% of modern genomes today, helping reveal how humans adapted to environments and why certain diseases affect us, said Priya Moorjani, an associate professor at Berkeley.
- Researchers tested TRACE on more than 500 modern human genomes from populations across Africa, Europe and Asia; clues in modern DNA remain the closest scientists can currently get to these long-lost ancestors.
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Scientists found traces of two unknown ancient human lineages hiding in modern DNA; one split from our ancestors about 800,000 years ago, another around 1.8 million years ago
Science News: Modern humans already carry small amounts of Neanderthal and Denisovan DNA, evidence that our ancestors interbred with other human groups tens of thou.
Evidence that emerges from DNA can unravel the mystery of human ancestors who are absent in the fossil record, but present in the genes of people living today. Scientists have found evidence from years ago that our species, Homo sapiens, had crossed with now extinct human relatives, including neanderthals and denisovanos. But some strains have been difficult to identify, because unlike Neanderthals and denisovanos, whose DNA has been recovered f…
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