People from Papua New Guinea and north-east Australia carry small amounts of DNA of an unidentified, extinct human species, a new research analysis has suggested.
Key points:
- Statistical geneticist carried out research analysis on percentages of extinct hominid DNA in modern humans
- "Discrepancies" in previous analyses show interbreeding between Neanderthals and Denisovans "is not the whole story"
- Researchers believe a third group, separate to Neanderthals and Denisovans, contributes to Pacific Islanders' DNA
The analysis suggests the DNA is unlikely to come from Neanderthals or Denisovans, but from a third extinct hominid, previously unknown to archaeologists.
Statistical geneticist Ryan Bohlender and his team investigated the percentages of extinct hominid DNA in modern humans.
They found discrepancies in previous analyses and found that interbreeding between Neanderthals and Denisovans was not the whole story to our ancestors' genetic makeup.
Mr Bohlender presented his analysis to the American Society of Human Genetics in Canada, saying that scientists were either "missing a population" or "misunderstanding something about the relationships".-read more
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