thesherd: Complete high-resolution genome of 30,000 year old Denisovan is available for download.   (via Extinct Genome From Fossil Finger Posted Online - ScienceInsider) “The higher resolution means Pääbo and his colleagues can now compare even small differences in copies of genes that this ancient girl inherited from her mother and father—and spot how her DNA differs precisely from that of living humans and Neandertals. The girl was more closely related to Neandertals than modern humans, but her genome was not within the range of variation found in Neandertals so far. Neandertals, Denisovans and modern humans all lived in Asia at about the same time and interbred at low levels; modern humans in Melanesia and other parts of Asia have inherited about 4% of their DNA from Denisovans. Researchers are now examining the draft sequence obtained from the girl’s ancient DNA to try to see exactly which genes modern humans have inherited from Denisovans. “We are cautious about talking about results as we intend to submit a paper with the analyses rather soon,” says Pääbo. But he says the high coverage of the girl’s genome makes it possible to see how much genetic variation there was within her population of Denisovans. He adds that it also makes it possible to make a “comprehensive and essentially complete catalog of all changes” that became fixed in modern humans’ genomes since our ancestors parted company with Denisovans.”

thesherd:

Complete high-resolution genome of 30,000 year old Denisovan is available for download.   (via Extinct Genome From Fossil Finger Posted Online - ScienceInsider)

“The higher resolution means Pääbo and his colleagues can now compare even small differences in copies of genes that this ancient girl inherited from her mother and father—and spot how her DNA differs precisely from that of living humans and Neandertals. The girl was more closely related to Neandertals than modern humans, but her genome was not within the range of variation found in Neandertals so far. Neandertals, Denisovans and modern humans all lived in Asia at about the same time and interbred at low levels; modern humans in Melanesia and other parts of Asia have inherited about 4% of their DNA from Denisovans.

Researchers are now examining the draft sequence obtained from the girl’s ancient DNA to try to see exactly which genes modern humans have inherited from Denisovans. “We are cautious about talking about results as we intend to submit a paper with the analyses rather soon,” says Pääbo. But he says the high coverage of the girl’s genome makes it possible to see how much genetic variation there was within her population of Denisovans. He adds that it also makes it possible to make a “comprehensive and essentially complete catalog of all changes” that became fixed in modern humans’ genomes since our ancestors parted company with Denisovans.”

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Tuesday 7th February at 11:36pm

Tagged as: Denisovans Denisovan Neanderthal DNA Suante Paablo anthropology genetics physical anthropology

Reblogged from thesherd, originally posted by thesherd

Source: news.sciencemag.org