American geneticist Ryan Bolender is studying the DNA of extinct people.
Ryan Bolender, a geneticist at the University of the American State of Texas, has discovered traces of DNA from a previously unknown human species in the genome of modern Melanesians.
The geneticist himself has long been studying the genetic code of extinct hominids (a family of progressive primates, which includes humans and great apes). Thus, he analyzes traces of DNA from Neanderthals and Denisovans (their inclusions are present in the genome of our contemporaries). The scientist made a discovery while studying the genome of the inhabitants of the Pacific Islands.
Ryan Bolender discovered traces of DNA from an unknown hominid species in these people. According to the analysis, these ancient people did not resemble the Neanderthals and Denisovans. This means that modern man probably has a third ancestor who did not survive to our time.
Bolender shared his discovery during a conference of the American Society for the Study of Human Genetics. Independent experts have confirmed the geneticist's hypothesis. It is believed that ancient people moved from Africa about 60-100 thousand years ago and mixed with other representatives of the species that lived in Eurasia, Science Alert reports.
Maria Elsenbach