Oldest human genetic evidence clarifies dispute over our ancestors

摘要

An important advancement in human evolution studies has been achieved after scientists retrieved the oldest human genetic data set from an 800 000-year-old tooth belonging to the hominin species Homo antecessor.The findings by scientists from the University of Copenhagen (Denmark),National Research Center on Human Evolution (Burgos,Spain),and other institutions,were published in Nature (https://doi.org/10.1038/s41586-020-2153-8).'Ancient protein analysis provides evidence for a close relationship between Homo antecessor,us (Homo sapiens),Neanderthals and Denisovans.Our results support the idea that Homo antecessor was a sister group to the group containing Homo sapiens,Neanderthals and Denisovans',said author Frido Welker (University of Copenhagen).