Clues to two mysterious ‘ghost’ ancestors emerge from genetic traces found in modern human DNA
UC Berkeley researchers identified genetic traces of two unidentified archaic human lineages within 503 living human genomes. These ghost ancestors have no sequenced genomes, yet their DNA persists in modern humans. One lineage diverged from human ancestors approximately 1.8 million years ago, while the second split roughly 800,000 years ago. One of these lineages still represents roughly 0.5 to 1.1 percent of the analyzed genetic material. The discovery was made possible through a new genetic technique used to reconstruct evolutionary family trees.
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- ✓ UC Berkeley researchers detected DNA from two unidentified archaic lineages across 503 living human genomes.
- ✓ One identified lineage split from human ancestors about 1.8 million years ago.
- ✓ One of the unidentified lineages accounts for roughly 0.5 to 1.1 percent of the DNA.
What changed
UC Berkeley researchers used a new genetic technique to identify two specific archaic lineages based on 503 modern genomes.
Live updates
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UC Berkeley Researchers Detect Two Unknown Archaic Human Lineages in Modern DNA
UC Berkeley researchers identified genetic traces of two unidentified archaic human lineages within 503 living human genomes. These ghost ancestors have no sequenced genomes, yet their DNA persists in modern humans. One lineage diverged from human ancestors approximately 1.8 million years ago, while the second split roughly 800,000 years ago. One of these lineages still represents roughly 0.5 to 1.1 percent of the analyzed genetic material. The discovery was made possible through a new genetic technique used to reconstruct evolutionary family trees.
Why it matters
Identifying ghost lineages helps scientists map the complex history of human evolution and interbreeding. These findings suggest that modern humans carry genetic legacies from hominids that have not been found in the fossil record. This expands the known diversity of the human family tree.
What is confirmed
- UC Berkeley researchers detected DNA from two unidentified archaic lineages across 503 living human genomes.
- One identified lineage split from human ancestors about 1.8 million years ago.
- One of the unidentified lineages accounts for roughly 0.5 to 1.1 percent of the DNA.
Still unconfirmed
- One of the unknown lineages split from human ancestors about 800,000 years ago.
What to watch next
- Discovery of physical fossils matching the genetic profiles of these lineages
- Sequencing of a full genome from either ghost ancestor
confidence 90%Sources used for this update (7)
- CNN — Clues to two mysterious ‘ghost’ ancestors emerge from genetic traces found in modern human DNA
- ScienceBlog.com — UC Berkeley researchers reconstructed evolutionary family trees across 503 living human genomes and detected DNA from two unidentified archaic lineages for which no genome has ever been sequenced — one of them still accounts for roughly 0.5 to 1.1 pe
- The Times of India — Scientists found traces of two unknown ancient human lineages hiding in modern DNA; one split from our ancestors about 800,000 years ago, another around 1.8 million years ago
- The News International — Scientists uncover two lost human ancestors hidden in modern DNA
- Межа. Новини України. — Researchers Uncover DNA Traces of Two Unknown Ancient Human Lineages
- vice.com — Scientists Found Evidence of Two ‘Ghost’ Human Ancestors Hiding in Our DNA
- www.vice.com — Scientists Found Evidence of Two ‘Ghost’ Human Ancestors Hiding in Our DNA
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