Genetic history of an archaic hominin group from Denisova Cave in Siberia

[Treffie]

Abstract


Using DNA extracted from a finger bone found in Denisova Cave in southern Siberia, we have sequenced the genome of an archaic hominin to about 1.9-fold coverage. This individual is from a group that shares a common origin with Neanderthals. This population was not involved in the putative gene flow from Neanderthals into Eurasians; however, the data suggest that it contributed 4–6% of its genetic material to the genomes of present-day Melanesians. We designate this hominin population ‘Denisovans’ and suggest that it may have been widespread in Asia during the Late Pleistocene epoch. A tooth found in Denisova Cave carries a mitochondrial genome highly similar to that of the finger bone. This tooth shares no derived morphological features with Neanderthals or modern humans, further indicating that Denisovans have an evolutionary history distinct from Neanderthals and modern humans

More (http://www.nature.com/nature/journal/v468/n7327/abs/nature09710.html)

BBC Article

Ancient humans, dubbed 'Denisovans', interbred with us (http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-12059564)

[Agrippa]

The study shows that Denisovans interbred with the ancestors of the present day people of the Melanesian region north and north-east of Australia. Melanesian DNA comprises between 4% and 6% Denisovan DNA.

That's particularly interesting and makes up a huge pile of new, so far unanswered questions!

I think we have to be careful with such rush conclusions, but if that's really true, it would be highly interesting.

Even more so if looking at the extremely primitive character of especially the Palaemelanesid racial type:

http://img217.imageshack.us/img217/9228/palaemelanesidneukaledo.jpg (http://img217.imageshack.us/i/palaemelanesidneukaledo.jpg/)

Yet 5 percent is obviously pretty low, without selection it is highly unlikely that this traits are more than just archaic Homo sapiens legacy, still it is strange to me that they never encountered the genetic deviations before?