Denisovans
Ancient human relatives
Denisovans are an extinct group of archaic humans known primarily from DNA extracted from bone fragments found in Siberia's Denisova Cave.
They lived alongside Neanderthals and modern humans, interbreeding with both.
Many present-day humans, particularly in Southeast Asia and Oceania, carry traces of Denisovan DNA: Tibetans inherited a gene for high-altitude adaptation from Denisovans.
Extinct European hominins
- HomoGenus of humanity
- interbreedingMating between distinct populations
- hybridizationMixing distinct genetic lines
- extinctNo longer existing
ancestors · Pleistocene · fossils · bones · molars · phalanx · species · evolution
Russia's eastern expanse
- excavationAct of unearthing
- archaeologyStudy of physical remnants
- molarRear crushing tooth
- TibetHimalayan plateau region
sediment · stratigraphy · dating · specimens · remains · fragments · unearthed · researchers
Hereditary code molecule
- admixtureAdded minor component
- sequencingDetermining element order
- genomeOrganism's total hereditary material
- allelesVariant forms of genes
inheritance · ancient DNA · Tibetan · high-altitude · chromosomes · genotype · variation · mutation
Something hard to fathom
- unknownNot yet discovered
- elusiveHard to find
- fragmentaryConsisting of incomplete parts
- scarceIn short supply
incomplete · puzzling · cryptic · obscure · hidden · undiscovered · speculative · unresolved
Neanderthals
Extinct European hominins
- HomoGenus of humanity
- interbreedingMating between distinct populations
- hybridizationMixing distinct genetic lines
extinct · ancestors · Pleistocene · fossils · bones · molars · phalanx · species · evolution · anthropology
Siberia
Russia's eastern expanse
- excavationAct of unearthing
- archaeologyStudy of physical remnants
- molarRear crushing tooth
Tibet · sediment · stratigraphy · dating · specimens · remains · fragments · unearthed · researchers · analysis
DNA
Hereditary code molecule
- admixtureAdded minor component
- sequencingDetermining element order
- genomeOrganism's total hereditary material
alleles · inheritance · ancient DNA · Tibetan · high-altitude · chromosomes · genotype · variation · mutation · genetic drift
enigma
Something hard to fathom
- unknownNot yet discovered
- elusiveHard to find
- fragmentaryConsisting of incomplete parts
scarce · incomplete · puzzling · cryptic · obscure · hidden · undiscovered · speculative · unresolved · questions
DenisovansHomo sapiens
Scientific name for humans
modern humans · Neanderthals · Homo erectus · Homo heidelbergensis · Australopithecus