Archaic human species interbred often, according to new algorithm discovery

[FfFfFfFF 58,058]

A new analysis of ancient genomes suggests that different branches of the human family tree interbred multiple times, and that some humans carry DNA from an archaic, unknown ancestor.

The sequencing of genomes from Neanderthals and a less well-known ancient group, the Denisovans, has yielded many new insights into these interbreeding events and into the movement of ancient human populations. In the new paper, the researchers developed an algorithm for analyzing genomes that can identify segments of DNA that came from other species, even if that gene flow occurred thousands of years ago and came from an unknown source.

They used the algorithm to look at genomes from two Neanderthals, a Denisovan and two African humans. The researchers found evidence that 3 percent of the Neanderthal genome came from ancient humans, and estimate that the interbreeding occurred between 200,000 and 300,000 years ago.  

Their new algorithm solves the challenging problem of identifying tiny remnants of gene flow that occurred hundreds of thousands of years ago, when only a handful of ancient genomes are available. This algorithm may also be useful for studying gene flow in other species where interbreeding occurred, such as in wolves and dogs.

Source: https://www.heritagedaily.com/2020/08/new-algorithm-suggests-that-early-humans-and-related-species-interbred-early-and-often/134630

[lifeasgeorge 9,427]

11 minutes ago, FfFfFfFF said:

A new analysis of ancient genomes suggests that different branches of the human family tree interbred multiple times, and that some humans carry DNA from an archaic, unknown ancestor.

 

me reading this part 

Spoiler

also nice formatting 

 

[Doot 2]

So Chris Evans is my long lost cousin?

 

[anonanon 932]

Very cool. Wish I knew more about pop gen and evolutionary genomics because it always blows me away.