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In a study published by Nature Ecology and Evolution, researchers examined the genomes of more than 400 modern humans, explaining the pairing between prehistoric humans and modern human populations that came from the island of Southeast Asia 50,000 to 60,000 years ago.
An international team of researchers led by the University of Adelaide (Australia), which also included experts from the Museum of Natural History, conducted a comprehensive genetic analysis and found no cases of interbreeding between modern humans and prehistoric people living in the southeastern archipelago. Asian. But the team uncovered mysterious DNA markers for our relatives, the Denisovs, which meant big discoveries await in the region.
Specifically, the researchers focused on markers that showed crosses with very diverse species known from fossils found in the region.
One of the oldest fossils (at least 1.6 million years old) has been found in this region, reflecting the evolution of humans around the world. So far, three different species of prehistoric humans have been found in the region from fossils: Standing man, Homo floresiensis (the so-called hobbits of the Island of Flores) and Homo luzonensis.
As is known Homo floresiensis and Homo luzonensis species lived at least 50,000-60,000 years ago, and Standing man – about 108,000 years ago. This means that they could have lived when populations of modern people got there as well.
The results of the study do not indicate crossover. Be that as it may, the team was able to confirm previous results showing a high level of genetic traces of Denisovites in the region.
Lead author and research associate at the University of Adelaide, Dr. João Teixeira said: “Unlike our other Neanderthal cousins, who have many fossil remains in Europe, we know Denisovs practically only from DNA. The only physical evidence of the existence of the Denisovites is the clavicle and other fragments found in a cave in Siberia, and not long ago a piece of the jaw was found on the Tibetan plateau. “
“We now know from our genetic code that Denisovians interbred with modern people who migrated from Africa 50,000-60,000 years ago, and they did so both in Asia and for modern people who migrated to Australia via the islands of Southeast Asia. Denisovite DNA levels in current populations suggest that a significant crossing occurred on the islands of Southeast Asia. However, it remains a mystery why we did not find their fossils alongside the fossils of other prehistoric people in the region. Perhaps we should recheck the available fossils and weigh other options? “Asks the scientist.
The article’s co-author, Professor Chris Stringer of the National Museum of History, added: Standing man, Homo floresiensis and Homo luzonensis The fossils seem to be in the right place and at the right time to represent the mysterious southern Denisovites, their ancestors on the islands of Southeast Asia at least 700,000 years ago. And that means their genetic lines are too old to be Denisovites, who, judging by their DNA, were more closely related to Neanderthals and modern humans. “
Study co-author, director of the Australian Museum Research Institute, associate researcher and director prof. Chris Helgen said: “These analyzes open an important window on human evolution in the impressive region between mainland Asia and Australia. However, this study sheds light on the geographic structure of megafauna survival that matches the well-known habitats of modern human ancestors in this part of the world. Large animals currently surviving in the region include the Komodo dragon, the babirusa (a pig with impressive upward-pointing tusks), and the Mindoric buffalo and the Anoa dwarf buffalo. This suggests that long-term hunting may have helped the megafauna survive later encounters with modern humans. Where the ancestors of modern humans have not been recorded, say, in Australia and New Guinea, animals larger than humans have completely disappeared in the last 50,000 years. “
Dr. Teixeira noted: “The study is consistent with previous research showing that Denisovites were on the islands of Southeast Asia and that modern people did not interbreed with distant groups of people in the region. This opens up two equally exciting possibilities: Either it is an imminent major discovery, or we need to re-evaluate the fossils available on the islands of Southeast Asia. In any case, it will be an exciting time for the science of paleontropology. “
