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Kil
Evil Skeptic
USA
13477 Posts |
 Posted - 12/23/2010 : 00:07:03
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Ancient humans, dubbed 'Denisovans', interbred with us
...A study in Nature journal shows that Denisovans co-existed with Neanderthals and interbred with our species - perhaps around 50,000 years ago.
An international group of researchers sequenced a complete genome from one of the ancient hominins (human-like creatures), based on nuclear DNA extracted from a finger bone.
'Sensational' find
According to the researchers, this provides confirmation there were at least four distinct types of human in existence when anatomically modern humans (Homo sapiens sapiens) first left their African homeland.
DNA from a tooth (pictured) and a finger bone show the Denisovans were a distinct group
Along with modern humans, scientists knew about the Neanderthals and a dwarf human species found on the Indonesian island of Flores nicknamed "The Hobbit". To this list, experts must now add the Denisovans.
The implications of the finding have been described by Professor Chris Stringer of the Natural History Museum in London as "nothing short of sensational".
Scientists were able to analyse DNA from a tooth and from a finger bone excavated in the Denisova cave in southern Siberia. The individuals belong to a genetically distinct group of humans that were distantly related to Neanderthals but even more distantly related to us.
The finding adds weight to the theory that a different kind of human could have existed in Eurasia at the same time as our species... |
snip
...'Fleeting encounter'
Professor Stringer believes it is because there may have been only a fleeting encounter as modern humans migrated through South-East Asia and then on to Melanesia.
"It could be just 50 Denisovans interbreeding with a thousand modern humans. That would be enough to produce this 5% of those archaic genes being transferred," he said.
"So the impact is there but the number of interbreeding events might have been quite small and quite rare."
No one knows when or how these humans disappeared but, according to Professor Paabo, it is very likely something to do with modern people because all the "archaic" humans, like Denisovans and Neanderthals disappeared sometime after Homo sapiens sapiens appeared on the scene... |
So as recently as 50,000 years ago, there were four distinct species of humans living on the planet at the same time. For whatever reason, we're what's left.
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Uncertainty may make you uncomfortable. Certainty makes you ridiculous.
Why not question something for a change?
Genetic Literacy Project |
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HalfMooner
Dingaling
Philippines
15831 Posts |
Posted - 12/28/2010 : 07:22:10 [Permalink]
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| We Homo saps had them all over for dinner. [Burp.] |
“Biology is just physics that has begun to smell bad.” —HalfMooner
Here's a link to Moonscape News, and one to its Archive. |
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Ebone4rock
SFN Regular
USA
894 Posts |
Posted - 12/28/2010 : 07:35:19 [Permalink]
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| Did the ancient homonids have whiskey? Back in the day the only thing that made me "mate" with women that ugly was a good whiskey drunk. Do you think our ancesters woke up in the morning saying " I better take you back where I found you before my buddies find out"? |
Haole with heart, thats all I'll ever be. I'm not a part of the North Shore society. Stuck on the shoulder, that's where you'll find me. Digging for scraps with the kooks in line. -Offspring |
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Dr. Mabuse
Septic Fiend
Sweden
9688 Posts |
Posted - 12/28/2010 : 15:08:22 [Permalink]
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Probably not whisky.
Beer is as old as civilzation, but mushrooms and weeds have always grown in the forest...  |
Dr. Mabuse - "When the going gets tough, the tough get Duct-tape..."
Dr. Mabuse whisper.mp3
"Equivocation is not just a job, for a creationist it's a way of life..." Dr. Mabuse
Support American Troops in Iraq:
Send them unarmed civilians for target practice..
Collateralmurder. |
| Edited by - Dr. Mabuse on 12/28/2010 15:09:16 |
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On fire for Christ
SFN Regular
Norway
1273 Posts |
 Posted - 12/29/2010 : 02:28:27 [Permalink]
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| I don't think Melanesians are that ugly. |
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And then there were four
