Genetic tools identify lost human relatives from fossil records

New genetic techniques are highlighting a mysterious part of our family tree. These are ancient human relatives called Denisovan, who emerged about 37 370,000 years ago during the Plystoson era.

They are rarely known about them because very few fossils have been found. The group was discovered in 2010, based on DNA analysis, which was thought to be a nendoane finger -bone found in Denisova cave in Siberia. However, it is related to the first unknown lineage that is closely related to the Nander Stalls.

Since then, only a few additional pieces have been found, so David Gokhman, from the Department of Molecular Genetics, the Wesman Institute of Science and his colleagues in Israel, developed a new genetic tool to pass through a fossil record, which can identify potential densovanis. Their starting point was Denisone genome.

Has appeared in the Journal of Research The action of the National Academy of Sciences.

The research team’s modern technique shows exactly how Dennovian gene is organized. These changes were probably responsible for the Danisovin skeleton, look like them.

Using this technique, scientists identified 32 physical traits more closely than the skull. Then he used the profile of this prediction to scan the middle plastensin foam record, especially focusing on the skulls for a long time.

Before applying this procedure to unknown fossils, researchers experienced its accuracy. They used the same technique to successfully predict the known physical traits of neandatles and champions with more than 85 % accuracy.

After that, they identified 18 features of the skull that they could measure, such as the width of the head and the forehead height, and then measured these traits on ten ancient skulls. They compared them to the skull with reference groups, including Nandarths, modern humans and homo -rich. Using sophisticated statistics tests, he scored every ancient skull to see how well he is similar to Danisovine Blue Print.

Of these, two skulls from China, known as Harbin and Dali samples, were close matches from the Denisovan profile. Harbin skulls fought 16 traits, while the Dali skull is similar to 15.

The study also found that a third skull, a Kabu 1, had a strong connection to the Danjuvan Nandruthal tree, which could indicate that it was the root of the Denisovan lineage that was separated from the Nandartles.

Are there even more human relatives in the foam record?

In his study, the team says their job can help identify other extinct human relatives.

“Our job is the basis for future efforts to improve the phenotypes of other extinct Homenin groups and to improve the taxonomic rating of the fossil records using genetic data.”

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