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Asian Ancestors Had Sex with Mysterious Human Cousins

Asian Ancestors Had Sex with Mysterious Human Cousins

Neanderthals weren't the only ancient cousins that humans frequently mated with, according to a new study that finds that East Asian populations share genes with a mysterious archaic hominin species that lived in Siberia 40,000 years ago. This group, the Denisovans, is known only by a few bone fragments: A finger bone, a tooth and possibly a toe bone, which is still undergoing analysis. The Denisovans likely split off from the Neanderthal branch of the hominin family tree about 300,000 years ago, but little else is known about their appearance, behavior or dress. But just as researchers have learned that ancient humans and Neanderthals mated, they've also found genetic echoes of the Denisovans in modern residents of Pacific islands, including New Guinea and the Philippines.

Senh: So we've mated with Neanderthals. Now, it's another human species called the Denisovans. This is beginning to sound like the Tiger Woods sex scandal, with more species popping up as time goes on.

 

Image of ancient mammoth or mastodon found on bone

Image of ancient mammoth or mastodon found on bone

Some of the earliest Americans turn out to have been artists. A bone fragment at least 13,000 years old, with the carved image of a mammoth or mastodon, has been discovered in Florida, a new study reports. While prehistoric art depicting animals with trunks has been found in Europe, this may be the first in the Western Hemisphere, researchers report Wednesday in the Journal of Archaeological Science.

 

Ancient cave women 'left home'

Analysis of teeth belonging to two early human-like populations suggest females left their childhood homes, while males stayed at home.

 

How far north did early humans go? Really far!

Ancient humans ventured into northern Europe far earlier than previously thought, settling on England's east coast more than 800,000 years ago, scientists said.

 

Most People Carry Neanderthal Genes

Most People Carry Neanderthal Genes

Neanderthals, a long-extinct species, survive today in the genes of almost everyone outside Africa, according to an international research team who offer the first molecular evidence that early humans mated and produced children in liaisons with Neanderthals.

Senh: Not surprising. Ok, so Neanderthals and early humans mated. What does this mean? There were once two co-existing human species. Since Neanderthals' brains were smaller, does this mean that we got dumber as a result? So Africans are the only untainted early humans?

 

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