Tag

Introgression

All articles tagged with #introgression

science1 hour ago•142 min saved

Ancient 'ghost' lineages embedded in every human genome, new study finds

A new method scans 500+ present‑day human genomes and reconstructs ancestral genealogies to reveal two previously unknown archaic lineages contributed to modern humans: a widespread 'ghost' lineage that left about 0.5%–1% of genomes in all people (likely from Homo heidelbergensis) and a 'super‑archaic' lineage dating to around 1.8 million years ago that is found in Oceanian genomes within Denisovan DNA at about 0.002%, implying interbreeding with extinct relatives far earlier in our history. The approach does not require fossil DNA and reinforces a view of human evolution as a web of repeated interbreeding rather than a simple branching tree. Published in Science (2026) by Moorjani and colleagues.

via Live Science|

#ancient-dna #ghost-lineages #human-evolution

science1 month ago•44 min saved

Denisovan DNA Still Shapes Oceanian Immunity, Study Finds

Researchers sequenced 177 Near Oceanian genomes and found that 3,127 Denisovan-derived variants remain functional in modern humans, many affecting immune signaling (notably interferon-gamma). Some Papua New Guinean populations carry up to ~5% Denisovan ancestry, reflecting interbreeding with multiple Denisovan-related groups and underscoring the health relevance of archaic DNA.

via Archaeology News Online Magazine|

#ancient-dna #denisovan #immune-system

science1 month ago•7 min saved

Near Oceania Reveals DNA From Three Denisovan-like Ancestors

A Science study sequenced 177 Near Oceanian genomes and found their ancestors inherited DNA from three Denisovan-like groups, making Near Oceanians the populations with the most ancient human DNA. Denisovan DNA is about 14 times higher there than in East Asians, with Sepik Islanders showing up to 25 times more. Long isolation and bottlenecks over tens of thousands of years shaped their distinct genomes, and some archaic variants appear to influence immune pathways today (e.g., TRPS1, OAS1, JAK1, GBP2), possibly affecting malaria resistance and antiviral responses. The team analyzed over 1.8 billion bases, noting multiple, independent introgression events, and conducted functional tests on 22,000 variants to confirm gene activity changes. Published in Science (2026) with ongoing work to time the events and link variants to health outcomes.

via StudyFinds|

#ancient-dna #denisovan #immune-genetics

science2 months ago•43 min saved

Enamel proteins link six Chinese H. erectus to Denisovan gene flow

Ancient enamel proteomics recovered endogenous proteins from six Middle Pleistocene Homo erectus teeth across northern and southern China (~0.4 Ma) and a Denisovan tooth. The study identifies two AMBN variants: a novel AMBN A253G found in all six H. erectus samples and not in other hominins, and AMBN M273V shared with Denisovans, suggesting Denisovans may have inherited this region from an H. erectus–related population. The results imply interactions between East Asian H. erectus populations and Denisovans and support the idea that H. erectus contributed to Denisovan DNA, with some signals ultimately reaching modern humans via introgression. Phylogenetic analyses cluster the H. erectus samples together, illustrating the power of enamel proteomics to illuminate deep human evolution and population diversity in East Asia.

via Nature|

#denisovans #east-asia #homo-erectus