Mystery Ancestor Hides in DNA

Modern human genomes already carry known DNA from Homo sapiens, Neanderthals, and Denisovans through ancient interbreeding. But some studies have also suggested that a fourth, still unidentified archaic hominin contributed genetic material indirectly through Denisovans, or possibly through other ancient mixing events. A 2013 report described evidence that Denisovans inherited part of their genome from a deeply divergent mystery lineage, while later reviews have continued to discuss unknown or "ghost" archaic ancestors in human evolutionary history.

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