A new study presented to the Royal Society meeting on ancient DNA in London last week has revealed a dramatic finding – the genome of one of our ancient ancestors, the Denisovans, contains a segment of DNA that seems to have come from another species that is currently unknown to science. The discovery suggests that there was rampant interbreeding between ancient human species in Europe and Asia more than 30,000 years ago. But, far more significant was the finding that they also mated with a mystery species from Asia – one that is neither human nor Neanderthal.
Scientists launched into a flurry of discussion and debate upon hearing the study results and immediately began speculating about what this unknown species could be. Some have suggested that a group may have branched off to Asia from the Homo heidelbernensis, who resided in Africa about half a million years ago. They are believed to be the ancestors of Europe's Neanderthals.
However others, such as Chris Stringer, a paleoanthropologist at the London Natural History Museum, admitted that they “don’t have the faintest idea” what the mystery species could be.
Traces of the unknown new genome were detected in two teeth and a finger bone of a Denisovan, which was discovered in a Siberian cave. There is not much data available about the appearance of Denisovans due to lack of their fossils' availability, but the geneticists and researchers succeeded in arranging their entire genome very precisely.
"What it begins to suggest is that we're looking at a 'Lord of the Rings'-type world - that there were many hominid populations," Mark Thomas, an evolutionary geneticist at University College London.
The question is now: who were these mystery people that the Denisovans were breeding with?
Grammar and Spelling
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In reply to Grammar ! by Kristina Ellis (not verified)
Use spell check. While I can forgive people using English as a second language, or accidental misspellings, using grammar and punctuation are important to communicating exactly what point you are trying to make. Not applying yourself and learning the basics of your native language shows laziness. If you are too lazy to attempt to write clearly then you deserve to be not taken seriously.
If you have a high IQ as you say, you would know how to communicate properly and use spell check to help in your spelling dificiency. My IQ is 165 and I have always had problems spelling some words. However, I reread all my comments to make sure they make sense and are spelled correctly.
King Tut
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In reply to Grammar and Spelling by Paul David Graham
Speaking of silly spelling mistakes the word you want is not dificiency it's spelled DEFICIENCY!!! Just a quick FYI don't brag until you're certain there are NO mistakes!!!
grammar vs intelect
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In reply to Grammar and Spelling by Paul David Graham
grammar vs intellect. IQ has nothing to do with if you are able to tie your shoes or knot.-einstein lol
You have a misconception of
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In reply to Grammar and Spelling by Paul David Graham
You have a misconception of having a hight IQ.
his doesnt mean he have a good education in all domain, just that is intellect is better then the general population. Nothing to do whit his knowledge in grammar ;).
Proper grammar
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In reply to Grammar by Last Past
I agree that proper grammar usage is desirable because it can be an indicator of the writer's general intelligence level in my opinion. I am no genius by any means but some command of the English language makes a good impression on the readers!