Archaic Homo sapiens admixture with modern humans
Encyclopedia
Archaic Homo sapiens admixture with modern humans is known to occur at least twice: with Neanderthals, and with Denisova hominin
. An estimated 1 to 4 percent of the DNA in Europeans and Asians (i.e. French, Chinese and Papua probands) is non-modern, and shared with ancient Neanderthal DNA rather than with Sub-Saharan Africans (i.e. Yoruba and San probands).
In addition to genetic
studies linking approximately 1-4% of non-African modern human DNA
to Neanderthal
s, these tests comparing the Denisova hominin genome
with those of six modern humans whose genome has been sequenced, a ǃKung from South Africa, a Nigerian, a French person
, a Papua New Guinean, a Bougainville Island
er and a Han Chinese
showed that between 4% and 6% of the genome
of Melanesians
(represented by the Papua New Guinean and Bougainville Islander) derives from a Denisovan population, possibly introduced during the early migration
of the ancestors of Melanesians into Southeast Asia. This history of interaction suggests that Denisovans once ranged widely over eastern Asia.
Melanesians thus emerge as the most "archaic"-admixed population, having Denisovan/Neandertal-related admixture of ~8%.
Denisova hominin
Denisova hominins , or Denisovans, are Paleolithic-Era members of the genus Homo that may belong to a previously unknown species. In , scientists announced the discovery of a finger bone fragment of a juvenile female that lived about 41,000 years ago, found in Denisova Cave in Altai Krai, Russia, a...
. An estimated 1 to 4 percent of the DNA in Europeans and Asians (i.e. French, Chinese and Papua probands) is non-modern, and shared with ancient Neanderthal DNA rather than with Sub-Saharan Africans (i.e. Yoruba and San probands).
In addition to genetic
Genetics
Genetics , a discipline of biology, is the science of genes, heredity, and variation in living organisms....
studies linking approximately 1-4% of non-African modern human DNA
DNA
Deoxyribonucleic acid is a nucleic acid that contains the genetic instructions used in the development and functioning of all known living organisms . The DNA segments that carry this genetic information are called genes, but other DNA sequences have structural purposes, or are involved in...
to Neanderthal
Neanderthal
The Neanderthal is an extinct member of the Homo genus known from Pleistocene specimens found in Europe and parts of western and central Asia...
s, these tests comparing the Denisova hominin genome
Genome
In modern molecular biology and genetics, the genome is the entirety of an organism's hereditary information. It is encoded either in DNA or, for many types of virus, in RNA. The genome includes both the genes and the non-coding sequences of the DNA/RNA....
with those of six modern humans whose genome has been sequenced, a ǃKung from South Africa, a Nigerian, a French person
French people
The French are a nation that share a common French culture and speak the French language as a mother tongue. Historically, the French population are descended from peoples of Celtic, Latin and Germanic origin, and are today a mixture of several ethnic groups...
, a Papua New Guinean, a Bougainville Island
Bougainville Island
Bougainville Island is the main island of the Autonomous Region of Bougainville of Papua New Guinea. This region is also known as Bougainville Province or the North Solomons. The population of the province is 175,160 , which includes the adjacent island of Buka and assorted outlying islands...
er and a Han Chinese
Han Chinese
Han Chinese are an ethnic group native to China and are the largest single ethnic group in the world.Han Chinese constitute about 92% of the population of the People's Republic of China , 98% of the population of the Republic of China , 78% of the population of Singapore, and about 20% of the...
showed that between 4% and 6% of the genome
Genome
In modern molecular biology and genetics, the genome is the entirety of an organism's hereditary information. It is encoded either in DNA or, for many types of virus, in RNA. The genome includes both the genes and the non-coding sequences of the DNA/RNA....
of Melanesians
Melanesians
Melanesians are an ethnic group in Melanesia. The original inhabitants of the group of islands now named Melanesia were likely the ancestors of the present-day Papuan-speaking people...
(represented by the Papua New Guinean and Bougainville Islander) derives from a Denisovan population, possibly introduced during the early migration
Human migration
Human migration is physical movement by humans from one area to another, sometimes over long distances or in large groups. Historically this movement was nomadic, often causing significant conflict with the indigenous population and their displacement or cultural assimilation. Only a few nomadic...
of the ancestors of Melanesians into Southeast Asia. This history of interaction suggests that Denisovans once ranged widely over eastern Asia.
Melanesians thus emerge as the most "archaic"-admixed population, having Denisovan/Neandertal-related admixture of ~8%.
See also
- Archaic Homo sapiensArchaic Homo sapiensArchaic Homo sapiens is a loosely defined term used to describe a number of varieties of Homo, as opposed to anatomically modern humans , in the period beginning 500,000 years ago....
- Denisova homininDenisova homininDenisova hominins , or Denisovans, are Paleolithic-Era members of the genus Homo that may belong to a previously unknown species. In , scientists announced the discovery of a finger bone fragment of a juvenile female that lived about 41,000 years ago, found in Denisova Cave in Altai Krai, Russia, a...
- NeanderthalNeanderthalThe Neanderthal is an extinct member of the Homo genus known from Pleistocene specimens found in Europe and parts of western and central Asia...
- Neanderthal admixture hypothesisNeanderthal admixture hypothesisVarious theories of Neanderthal admixture in modern human DNA, i.e. the result of interbreeding of Neanderthals and anatomically modern humans during the Middle Paleolithic has been debated throughout the 20th century, and in terms of genetics throughout the 2000s.In May 2010, the Neanderthal...