DNA Evidence Reveals A New Breed Of Proto-Humans

Kevin Lincoln
Recent DNA evidence reveals that Denisovans, a mysterious humanlike offshoot of Neandertals, interbred with early homo sapiens in what was likely the first of two Stone Age migrations into southern Asia, ScienceNews reports.

Before this, scientists had thought there was only one migration about 65,000 years ago.

The evidence, presented in two new scientific papers, comes from analysis of a fingerbone fossil and a lock of an Aborigine man's hair. It indicates both a larger Denisovan DNA presence in modern humans than expected and widespread interbreeding between early humans and humanlike groups.

According to ScienceNews, all non-Africans possess about 1%-4% Neandertal DNA. The report in the American Journal of Human Genetics found that this subset of Oceanians possesses 4%-6% Denisovan DNA. And a lack of Neandertal DNA in Africans shows that interbreeding took place following human migration into Europe.

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