When We Met Other Human Species
PBS Eons・11 minutes read
Various hominin species like Neanderthals and Denisovans once coexisted with modern humans, leading to interbreeding events and genetic legacies influencing modern human traits. Factors like climate change, competition, and potential inbreeding contributed to the disappearance of Neanderthals and Denisovans, while their genetic contributions continue to shape modern human populations.
Insights
- Modern humans of European and East Asian descent carry 1 to 2% Neanderthal DNA, while Sub-Saharan Africans lack Neanderthal DNA, showcasing distinct genetic legacies based on geographical ancestry.
- Interbreeding events between Neanderthals and Homo sapiens occurred multiple times around 50,000 to 60,000 years ago, contributing genes that influence modern human traits like immune response and skin-cell repair, enhancing adaptability and survival.
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Recent questions
What hominin species interbred with modern humans?
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When did interbreeding events between Neanderthals and Homo sapiens occur?
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What genetic contributions did Denisovans provide to modern humans?
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Why did Neanderthals and Denisovans disappear?
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How have genetic contributions from extinct hominins influenced modern humans?
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Summary
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Ancient Hominin Interbreeding Shaped Modern Humans
- Eurasia was once home to various hominin species, including Neanderthals and Denisovans, with whom our ancestors interacted and interbred.
- Neanderthals, discovered in the 1800s, were anatomically similar to modern humans, with robust limbs, big brains, and distinctive features like heavy brow ridges.
- Genetic studies reveal that modern humans of European and East Asian descent carry between 1 to 2% Neanderthal DNA, while Sub-Saharan Africans lack Neanderthal DNA.
- Interbreeding events between Neanderthals and Homo sapiens occurred multiple times, with genetic material indicating encounters around 50,000 to 60,000 years ago.
- Denisovans, discovered in 2008, are a mysterious hominin group with DNA found in modern populations of East and South Asia, as well as up to 6% in Melanesians.
- Denisovans contributed genes like EPAS1, associated with efficient oxygen transport at high altitudes, showing adaptation to diverse environments.
- The disappearance of Neanderthals and Denisovans is attributed to factors like climate change, competition from modern humans, and potential inbreeding leading to decreased genetic diversity.
- Genetic legacies from Neanderthals and Denisovans, such as immune response and skin-cell repair genes, have influenced modern human traits and adaptations.
- Interbreeding with other hominins, like Neanderthals and Denisovans, played a crucial role in enhancing the adaptability and survival of Homo sapiens in various environments.
- The genetic contributions from these extinct hominins continue to shape modern human populations, highlighting the interconnectedness of our species with our ancient relatives.
