'Mystery population' of human ancestors gave us 20% of our genes and may have boosted our brain function

Live Science ^ | March 18, 2025 | Kristina Killgrove

[SunkenCiv]

The ancestors of all modern humans split off from a mystery population 1.5 million years ago and then reconnected with them 300,000 years ago, a new genetic model suggests. The unknown population contributed 20% of our DNA and may have boosted humans' brain function...

In a study published Tuesday (March 18) in the journal Nature Genetics, researchers presented a new method of modeling genomic data, called "cobraa," that has allowed them to trace the evolution of modern humans (Homo sapiens).

By applying their new method to modern human DNA data published in the 1000 Genomes Project and the Human Genome Diversity Project, the researchers discovered that there were two main ancestral groups that split around 1.5 million years ago, which they called Population A and Population B.

Just after that split, Population A experienced a bottleneck when the population plummeted and likely lost a significant amount of genetic diversity. But Population A grew over time, and Neanderthals and Denisovans branched off from it.

Then, around 300,000 years ago, Population A mixed with Population B, the researchers found. Their genetic analysis suggests that 80% of the genome of all present-day humans comes from Population A, while 20% of our genome comes from Population B...

Who those populations were, however, is not clear. In the study, the researchers noted that "various Homo erectus and Homo heidelbergensis populations that are potential candidates for lineages A and B existed both in Africa and elsewhere in the relevant period."
...But one of the drawbacks to the new model, according to Hawks, is that it is based on the 1000 Genomes Project, which has a low representation of African populations.

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TOPICS: History; Science; Travel
KEYWORDS: 1000genomes; 300manyearsoflabor; africa; bottleneck; cobraa; denisovans; dna; genealogy; ghostpopulation; godsgravesglyphs; helixmakemineadouble; homoerectus; homohabilis; homoheidelbergensis; homosapiens; humangenomediversity; introgression; kristinakillgrove; livescience; neandertal; neandertals; neanderthal; neanderthals; nephilim; noahsmalarkey; populationa; populationb

[SunkenCiv]

• Mysterious 'ghost population' of ancient humans discovered in African DNA [02/15/2020]

[Savage Beast]

When I get to heaven, I’m going to look up all my ancestors. I’ll bet I’ll be floored with surprises.

[SunkenCiv]

[Red Badger]

Then they suddenly and without warning just got up and left Africa.................

[Blurb2350]

The “fatigue” is not a strictly modern development.

[Red Badger]

You may find some surprises as well.

Like Sunny Hostin did on “Finding Your Roots” she found out one of her ancestors was not only a SLAVE OWNER but a SLAVE TRADER!...............

[Cletus.D.Yokel]

All but 8 of them drowned in a severe rain storm.

[mythenjoseph]

lol,good one.

[z3n]

This (if true) would support the theory that a “superior” (subjective) or precedant human population developed greater intelligence before homo sapiens sapiens, which is a very very radical one because, they either went extinct 250,000 years ago (like many other pre-humans and other parallel branches) or they left earth or at least the surface of the earth.

Sorry for all the parenthesis

[pingman]

I hope mine are all wearing good jeans.

[Tell It Right]

I hope mine are all wearing good jeans.

Best post award!

[SaveFerris]

WINNER 🏆🏆🏆

[Wuli]

We only know what we know, and there is always many times more that we do not know. What we think we know is just what we can currently surmise. We need to be humble enough to admit we do not even have a lot of possible evidence that can change everything we currently surmise - evidence that has just not yet come to our attention.

[BigFreakinToad]

Aliens

[Savage Beast]

I'm afraid that's a slim hope. As my Great Aunt Laura Bell said, "If you look very far up the Family Tree you're going to see some monkeys." I didn't have to look very far.

[algore]

Gen 6:2 kjv That the sons of God saw the daughters of men that they were fair; and they took them wives of all which they chose.

[BenLurkin]

Aliens.

[Ignatz]

“I’m not gonna say it was aliens, but...”

[Ronaldus Magnus III]

In a related story, Jazzy Crokfull and Ocrazio-Cortex are petitioning Judge Boasberg for a comprehensive investigation of why their brains did not receive any smart cells.

[itsahoot]

I guess the global warming model software wasn’t busy so they re-tasked it.