Is There a Denisovan in Your Family Tree?

According to Scientific American, researchers from the Max Plank Institute (M.P.I.) for Evolutionary Anthropology in Germany have discovered that modern humans may have interbred with Denisovans hundreds of thousands of years ago. While Denisovans – like Neanderthals – have died out, traces of their DNA can be found in contemporary humans. Researchers at the M.P.I . have said that up to 6% of modern Pacific Islanders’ DNA may be of Denisovan origin.

Very few remains of Denisovans have been discovered. Two Denisovan teeth and one finger bone were discovered in a Siberian cave. Although there is not much DNA in the finger bone, a new method – one that uses single-stranded DNA instead of the traditional double-stranded DNA – was used to sequence the DNA. Dr. Svante Pääbo of the M.P.I. said that he and his research team were able to sequence the DNA within the finger bone 30 times.

These Denisovan samples, however, are not the only ancient samples to be sequenced. Researchers plan to use this technology on older samples in hopes of making new discoveries. Hopefully, findings from future research will give more of an insight into human evolutionary history.

Studying human evolutionary history is interesting because it tells a story that all people share. In a society that often focuses on dividing people into groups, it is amazing to hear stories about a common history.