Ancient DNA shows earliest European genomes weathered the Ice Age

The study also uncovers a more accurate timescale for when humans and Neanderthals interbred, and finds evidence for an early contact between the European hunter-gatherers and those in the Middle East – who would later develop agriculture and disperse into Europe about 8,000 years ago, transforming the European gene pool.

Scientists now believe Eurasians separated into at least three populations earlier than 36,000 years ago: Western Eurasians, East Asians and a mystery third lineage, all of whose descendants would develop the unique features of most non-African peoples - but not before some interbreeding with Neanderthals took place.

Led by the Centre for GeoGenetics at the University of Copenhagen, the study was conducted by an international team of researchers from institutions including the University of Cambridge's Departments of Archaeology and Anthropology, and Zoology, and is published today in the journal Science.

By cross-referencing the ancient man's complete genome – the second oldest modern human genome ever sequenced – with previous research, the team discovered a surprising genetic "unity" running from the first modern humans in Europe, suggesting that a 'meta-population' of Palaeolithic hunter-gatherers with deep shared ancestry managed to survive through the Last Glacial Maximum and colonise the landmass of Europe for more than 30,000 years.

Thanks BenLurkin, TigersEye, and colorado tanker!

Europeans drawn from three 'tribes'
Europeans drawn from three 'tribes'
Europeans descended from three ancient tribes
Europeans drawn from three ancient 'tribes'

The Neandertal Enigma
by James Shreeve
in local libraries
"Frayer's own reading of the record reveals a number of overlooked traits that clearly and specifically link the Neandertals to the Cro-Magnons. One such trait is the shape of the opening of the nerve canal in the lower jaw, a spot where dentists often give a pain-blocking injection. In many Neandertal, the upper portion of the opening is covered by a broad bony ridge, a curious feature also carried by a significant number of Cro-Magnons. But none of the alleged 'ancestors of us all' fossils from Africa have it, and it is extremely rare in modern people outside Europe." [pp 126-127]

Then in 2016, a true ghost emerged from the genomes of 44 individuals who lived in the Middle East between 14,000 and 3400 years ago. Their DNA held genetic markers indicative of a distinct group of ancient H. sapiens based in the region more than 45,000 years ago. The members of this population are now known as Basal Eurasians, and they present a conundrum. Their DNA, which is still found in modern Europeans, shows none of the telltale signs of interbreeding with Neanderthals. This came as a surprise because ancestral humans mated with Neanderthals very soon after leaving Africa 60,000 years ago in the migration that was to give rise to all people of non-African heritage alive today... the genomes of modern Africans who belong to groups with deep ancestral roots, including the Baka hunter-gatherers from Cameroon, and the Hadza and Sandawe from Tanzania. Within these genomes, they have found stretches of DNA that appear to come from another hominin species. Because this DNA is found only in the descendants of African people - not in any Eurasians - the ghost species must have interbred with H. sapiens after the out-of-Africa migration 60,000 years ago. In fact, by the team's calculations, this probably happened within the past 30,000 years. If true, this is huge. It means that until very recently, there was at least one other species of hominin living alongside us in Africa. According to Akey, soon-to-be published evidence suggests there might have been more than one... It now transpires that Denisovans had their own ghosts. People living in Oceania and East and South-East Asia today have inherited about 5 per cent of their DNA from Denisovans. By taking a closer look at these genetic sequences, Akey's team found that they don't all relate to the original finger-bone genome in the same way. In fact, the group found signs of two evolutionarily distinct Denisovan populations. "That was really unexpected," he says. "There's actually another, ghost, Denisovan lineage."

Traces of mystery ancient humans found lurking in our genomes | October 10, 2018 | Catherine Brahic | New Scientist

Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.