Scientists Find Evidence Of Ancient Human Relationships With Three Extinct Species

While some scientific breakthroughs take us to the stars, others dive deep into our own ancient history.

One fascinating discovery has shed light on the lives of our distant ancestors, revealing just how complex their relationships were.

Scientists have now found clear evidence that our ancient ancestors didn’t limit themselves to a single group.

In fact, they intermingled with at least three different populations of an extinct species.

Yes, it turns out that early humans were much more interconnected than we ever imagined.

Dr Linda Ongaro, one of the study's authors, explained: "It's a common misconception that humans evolved suddenly and neatly from one common ancestor, but the more we learn the more we realise interbreeding with different hominins occurred and helped to shape the people we are today."

So, who exactly were these ancient companions?

The story begins with the Denisovans, an enigmatic species that has intrigued scientists ever since their discovery in 2010.

Humans had sex with three different populations of an extinct species, scientists say Getty Stock Photo

Denisovans sparked this groundbreaking research when their genome was first identified from a finger bone found in Siberia.

This initial finding opened the door to understanding their role in human evolution.

The Denisovan genome was pieced together from a tiny fragment of bone found in the Denisova Cave, nestled in Siberia's remote mountains.

This breakthrough made it possible for researchers to see how this extinct species contributed to modern humans.

Interestingly, traces of Denisovan DNA have been found in the genetic material of Indigenous Americans, as well as populations in East and South Asia.

This raised questions for researchers, as it didn’t align with earlier theories.

For years, experts believed that just one population of Denisovans had contributed to the genetic makeup of modern humans.

However, new findings suggest something much more intricate was at play.

Dr Ongaro and her team uncovered evidence of a much more intricate history, shedding light on why Denisovan genes appear in such diverse populations.

"Unlike Neanderthal remains, the Denisovan fossil record consists of only that finger bone, a jawbone, teeth, and skull fragments," she noted.

Scientists have disclosed their findings Getty Stock Photo

The research further revealed: "But by leveraging the surviving Denisovan segments in Modern Human genomes, scientists have uncovered evidence of at least three past events whereby genes from distinct Denisovan populations made their way into the genetic signatures of modern humans."

These findings highlight how intertwined our evolutionary past really is, with multiple encounters shaping the genetic diversity we see today.

The researchers elaborated on their discoveries, noting: "Another example of adaptive introgression is related to lipid metabolism in Inuit from Greenland, which have a highly divergent haplotype in the TBX15/WARS2 region that was probably introduced into the modern human gene pool via introgression with Denisovans."

One key example is a genetic trait known as the EPAS1 locus, which is linked to adaptations for low oxygen environments.

This particular gene can be traced to interactions between Denisovans and East Asians.

Dr Ongaro added: "Among these is a genetic locus that confers a tolerance to hypoxia, or low oxygen conditions, which makes a lot of sense as it is seen in Tibetan populations,"

This example highlights how these ancient relationships left lasting imprints on modern human populations, influencing traits that helped certain groups survive and thrive in specific environments.

If you’re curious to dive deeper into how our ancestors intermingled with three different populations of an extinct species, the full findings are available in the journal Nature Genetics.