Archaic humans might actually be the same species as modern humans, study suggests
Our species is defined by a long list of cultural and genetic traits that set us apart from our ancient counterparts.
New research suggests at least some key distinctions date back earlier than previously estimated, hinting that modern and archaic humans – including our close, extinct relatives – have more in common than we ever thought.
“Our results point to a scenario where Modern and Archaic should be regarded as populations of an otherwise common human species, which independently accumulated mutations and cultural innovations,” writes a team of researchers led by biologist Luca Pagani from the University of Padova in Italy.
In a study of critical rearrangements of our chromosomes and select variations in our genes, the team looked at genome databases built from Neanderthal fossils, Denisovan fossils, and modern human samples. [Continue reading…]