Ancient humans, dubbed 'Denisovans', interbred with us

[Gawdzilla Sama]

Ancient humans, dubbed 'Denisovans', interbred with us

Professor Chris Stringer: "It's nothing short of sensational - we didn't know know how ancient people in China related to these other humans"
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Scientists say an entirely separate type of human identified from bones in Siberia co-existed and interbred with our own species.

The ancient humans have been dubbed "Denisovans" after the caves in Siberia where their remains were found.

There is also evidence that this population was widespread in Eurasia.

A study in Nature journal shows that Denisovans co-existed with Neanderthals and interbred with our species - perhaps around 50,000 years ago.

An international group of researchers sequenced a complete genome from one of the ancient hominins (human-like creatures), based on nuclear DNA extracted from a finger bone.

Video and balance of article at URL above.

[ScholasticSpastic]

I'm not sure I agree with failing to class these critters in the same species as our other ancestors. They shared a natural range and interbred- and this interbreeding must have produced viable offspring if we can find genetic evidence for it. Thus, by every definition of 'species' which applies to sexually reproducing critters, the two populations were of the same species. I'll accept disparate subspecies-status, though: Homo sapiens sapiens vs. Homo sapiens denisovans.

[JimC]

I'm not sure I agree with failing to class these critters in the same species as our other ancestors. They shared a natural range and interbred- and this interbreeding must have produced viable offspring if we can find genetic evidence for it. Thus, by every definition of 'species' which applies to sexually reproducing critters, the two populations were of the same species. I'll accept disparate subspecies-status, though: Homo sapiens sapiens vs. Homo sapiens denisovans.

[Berthold]

ScholasticSpastic and JimC:
Bovid hybrids
Canid hybrids
Feline hybrids
Python hybrids
Swordtail breeds

Many hybrids are sterile, but not all.

Do you think you have a chance, suggesting to rewrite parts of systematics?

[Xamonas Chegwé]

I saw something about this on the news last night. From what they were saying, the Denisovans were as distinct from us as Neanderthals. The really exciting bit is the spread of DNA. There is Neanderthal DNA in Europeans, Denisovan DNA in Melanesians and neither in Africans - neatly dovetailing with the historic range of these hominids.

The family tree diagram in the article shows the interrelation quite neatly.

[JimC]

ScholasticSpastic and JimC:
Bovid hybrids
Canid hybrids
Feline hybrids
Python hybrids
Swordtail breeds

Many hybrids are sterile, but not all.

Do you think you have a chance, suggesting to rewrite parts of systematics?

It's really the other way around. If we did interbreed with neandertals and denisovans (and the experts are saying that DNA evidence points in that direction), then that automatically means non-sterile hybrids could be produced, allowing eventual introgression of populations. If this happens, it is a key proof that 2 populations should not be assigned separate species status, as it implies that if the populations met in nature, successful widespread interbreeding would blend the 2 gene pools. Of course, this only applies to sexually reproducing organisms, and is difficult to apply as a definitive test to extant popuklations in many cases, for practical reasons.

[amused]

I have never, ever had sex with a Denisovan.

[Gawdzilla Sama]

I have never, ever had sex with a Denisovan.

That you know of.

[amused]

I have never, ever had sex with a Denisovan.

That you know of.

There was that one with the strange growth on her... Nah...

[Bella Fortuna]

I have never, ever had sex with a Denisovan.

That you know of.

There was that one with the strange growth on her... Nah...

(That was her head...)

[amused]

I have never, ever had sex with a Denisovan.

That you know of.

There was that one with the strange growth on her... Nah...

(That was her head...)

I knew that!