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?
Really? Really!
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In reply to Proper grammar by Hans (not verified)
Really? Really!
Grammar and syntax do not
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In reply to Grammar by Last Past
Grammar and syntax do not indicate whether the person is telling the truth or not. Witnessing/experiencing something and putting it down on paper are two different things. If a child saw a plane and you asked that child to write down "I saw a plane in the sky above me today" it might get quite alot of that wrong. Does that mean the child didnt see a plane. Nope.
You can write a paragraph about something that is completely false and get every word right with perfect grammar.
Grammar and syntax do not
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In reply to Grammar by Last Past
Grammar and syntax do not indicate whether the person is telling the truth or not. Witnessing/experiencing something and putting it down on paper are two different things. If a child saw a plane and you asked that child to write down "I saw a plane in the sky above me today" it might get quite alot of that wrong. Does that mean the child didnt see a plane. Nope.
You can write a paragraph about something that is completely false and get every word right with perfect grammar.
But you also have to consider
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In reply to Grammar by Last Past
But you also have to consider that not everyone was born and raised speaking English, and what little English we did learn at schools it tends to fade with time. At least some of us have a little idea about a language not ours which can not be claimed for most English speakers ( meaning where English is their mother language ). The sad case is I have seen more English primary speaking people use spell chescks than foreigners
Grammar Police
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In reply to Grammar by Last Past
As everyone is picking up on the obvious errors. One really bothers me and every scientist should know that data is plural of datum. "Is" indicates singular, "are" is indicative of more than one. ie: "There ARE not much data available..."