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Economic Times
2 days ago
- Science
- Economic Times
Five ancient human species that lived alongside modern humans revealed: New insights into our prehistoric cousins
The five ancient human cousins Neanderthals (Homo neanderthalensis) Denisovans (Homo sp. Denisova) Homo naledi Homo floresiensis Live Events Homo erectus A shared evolutionary tapestry (You can now subscribe to our (You can now subscribe to our Economic Times WhatsApp channel In a remarkable revelation that reshapes our understanding of human evolution , scientific research confirms that Homo sapiens—modern humans—were not alone for much of their early history. Between approximately 300,000 and 40,000 years ago, several closely related ancient human species lived alongside us, interacted with us, and in some cases interbred with our ancestors. Far from being the solitary pinnacle of evolution, Homo sapiens shared the planet with a diverse cast of human relatives whose legacy lingers in our DNA and in our the best-known and closest extinct relatives of modern humans, Neanderthals first appeared about 400,000 years ago. Unlike the outdated stereotype of brutish cavemen, they were highly intelligent, sporting brains on average larger than modern humans. Adapted to cold Eurasian climates, they had stocky bodies, large noses to warm inhaled air, and used sophisticated tools, clothing, and studies reveal that 1–2% of DNA in Europeans and Asians today originated from Neanderthals, influencing aspects such as immune system function. Their extinction roughly 40,000 years ago did not end their contribution to our genetic only in 2008 from a tiny finger bone in Siberia's Denisova Cave, Denisovans remain one of the most mysterious human cousins. DNA sequencing shows they diverged from Neanderthals about 550,000 to 765,000 years ago and lived from roughly 300,000 to 25,000–30,000 years ago in parts of Asia. Genetic evidence indicates adaptations such as dark skin, eyes, and hair, with physical traits somewhat reminiscent of one genome from a bone fragment revealed a first-generation hybrid with a Neanderthal mother and a Denisovan father. Fossil and genetic evidence suggest they inhabited a wide ecological range—from Siberia's cold caves to Southeast Asia's tropical forests—illustrating a previously hidden human in South Africa in 2013, Homo naledi is an enigmatic species. With a small brain size of around 465–560 cm³, comparable to earlier ancestors like Australopithecus, yet living contemporaneously with Homo sapiens roughly 335,000 to 236,000 years ago, Homo naledi defies simple evolutionary assumptions. Standing about 1.44 meters tall, they had long fingers and an anatomy suggesting strong climbing ability. Their diet likely consisted of nuts, tubers, and other plant matter, pointing to a different ecological niche from early modern they left no known genetic trace in modern populations, their coexistence with Homo sapiens underscores the complex diversity of human morphology and behavior during the late "Hobbits" due to their small stature, Homo floresiensis was discovered in 2003 on Indonesia's Flores island. These tiny humans stood only about 1.1 meters tall and had brains around 400 cm³ in size. Despite these archaic features, their use of stone tools and ability to hunt dwarf elephants point to a sophisticated species. They are believed to have descended from Homo erectus populations that underwent island floresiensis likely survived until around 60,000 to 38,000 years ago, potentially overlapping with Homo sapiens in Southeast Asia. Some anthropologists speculate their presence might have inspired local myths such as the Ebu Gogo—small forest-dwelling people from Flores of the longest-surviving human species, Homo erectus appeared about 1.9 million years ago and was the first human species known to leave Africa and colonize large areas of Europe and Asia. They showed significant evolutionary advances, including fully upright posture, use of fire, and persistence hunting—chasing prey until it collapsed from brain size and body shape were more human-like than earlier hominins, and they are considered direct ancestors of later human species, including Homo heidelbergensis, which is thought to be a common ancestor of Neanderthals, Denisovans, and Homo sapiens. Fossil evidence suggests H. erectus survived in parts of Asia until about 140,000 years findings highlight that humans did not evolve in isolation but rather as part of a broad family of ancient human groups exhibiting rich biological and ecological diversity. Our direct ancestors interbred with some of these species, notably Neanderthals and Denisovans, weaving their genes into ours and inheriting traits that helped us adapt to new environments.
Time of India
2 days ago
- Science
- Time of India
Five ancient human species that lived alongside modern humans revealed: New insights into our prehistoric cousins
In a remarkable revelation that reshapes our understanding of human evolution , scientific research confirms that Homo sapiens—modern humans—were not alone for much of their early history. Between approximately 300,000 and 40,000 years ago, several closely related ancient human species lived alongside us, interacted with us, and in some cases interbred with our ancestors. Far from being the solitary pinnacle of evolution, Homo sapiens shared the planet with a diverse cast of human relatives whose legacy lingers in our DNA and in our story. The five ancient human cousins Neanderthals (Homo neanderthalensis) Perhaps the best-known and closest extinct relatives of modern humans, Neanderthals first appeared about 400,000 years ago. Unlike the outdated stereotype of brutish cavemen, they were highly intelligent, sporting brains on average larger than modern humans. Adapted to cold Eurasian climates, they had stocky bodies, large noses to warm inhaled air, and used sophisticated tools, clothing, and fire. Genetic studies reveal that 1–2% of DNA in Europeans and Asians today originated from Neanderthals, influencing aspects such as immune system function. Their extinction roughly 40,000 years ago did not end their contribution to our genetic makeup. Explore courses from Top Institutes in Please select course: Select a Course Category Denisovans (Homo sp. Denisova) Discovered only in 2008 from a tiny finger bone in Siberia's Denisova Cave, Denisovans remain one of the most mysterious human cousins. DNA sequencing shows they diverged from Neanderthals about 550,000 to 765,000 years ago and lived from roughly 300,000 to 25,000–30,000 years ago in parts of Asia. Genetic evidence indicates adaptations such as dark skin, eyes, and hair, with physical traits somewhat reminiscent of Neanderthals. Remarkably, one genome from a bone fragment revealed a first-generation hybrid with a Neanderthal mother and a Denisovan father. Fossil and genetic evidence suggest they inhabited a wide ecological range—from Siberia's cold caves to Southeast Asia's tropical forests—illustrating a previously hidden human diversity. Homo naledi Found in South Africa in 2013, Homo naledi is an enigmatic species. With a small brain size of around 465–560 cm³, comparable to earlier ancestors like Australopithecus, yet living contemporaneously with Homo sapiens roughly 335,000 to 236,000 years ago, Homo naledi defies simple evolutionary assumptions. Standing about 1.44 meters tall, they had long fingers and an anatomy suggesting strong climbing ability. Their diet likely consisted of nuts, tubers, and other plant matter, pointing to a different ecological niche from early modern humans. Though they left no known genetic trace in modern populations, their coexistence with Homo sapiens underscores the complex diversity of human morphology and behavior during the late Pleistocene. Homo floresiensis Nicknamed "Hobbits" due to their small stature, Homo floresiensis was discovered in 2003 on Indonesia's Flores island. These tiny humans stood only about 1.1 meters tall and had brains around 400 cm³ in size. Despite these archaic features, their use of stone tools and ability to hunt dwarf elephants point to a sophisticated species. They are believed to have descended from Homo erectus populations that underwent island dwarfism. Homo floresiensis likely survived until around 60,000 to 38,000 years ago, potentially overlapping with Homo sapiens in Southeast Asia. Some anthropologists speculate their presence might have inspired local myths such as the Ebu Gogo—small forest-dwelling people from Flores folklore. Live Events Homo erectus One of the longest-surviving human species, Homo erectus appeared about 1.9 million years ago and was the first human species known to leave Africa and colonize large areas of Europe and Asia. They showed significant evolutionary advances, including fully upright posture, use of fire, and persistence hunting—chasing prey until it collapsed from exhaustion. Their brain size and body shape were more human-like than earlier hominins, and they are considered direct ancestors of later human species, including Homo heidelbergensis, which is thought to be a common ancestor of Neanderthals, Denisovans, and Homo sapiens. Fossil evidence suggests H. erectus survived in parts of Asia until about 140,000 years ago. A shared evolutionary tapestry These findings highlight that humans did not evolve in isolation but rather as part of a broad family of ancient human groups exhibiting rich biological and ecological diversity. Our direct ancestors interbred with some of these species, notably Neanderthals and Denisovans, weaving their genes into ours and inheriting traits that helped us adapt to new environments.
Time of India
22-07-2025
- Science
- Time of India
Not just Homo Sapiens: There were 20+ human species that walked the Earth with the modern man; Where are they now?
Once, Earth was home to diverse human species, not just Homo sapiens. Fossil evidence reveals at least 21 early human species, including Neanderthals and Denisovans, coexisted and even interbred with our ancestors. While the reasons for their extinction remain a mystery, factors like climate change, competition, and interbreeding likely played roles. Modern humans are often seen as the pinnacle of evolution and the only ones to have grown and developed over centuries. But in evolutionary terms, not long ago, we shared the planet with a number of other human species. These ancient relatives were not just distant ancestors but our contemporaries, walking the Earth at the same time with our ancestors, even in the same places. They lived, adapted, created tools, even interacted and had children with us. The picture of human evolution is not a straight line from primitive to modern but rather a tangled tree with many branches, where some of these branches ended in extinction and others merged. But who are the other types of human species that walked along the ancestors of the Homo Sapiens, and why couldn't they survive till today? A crowded family tree For most of human history, Homo sapiens weren't alone. Fossil evidence shows that at least 21 species of early humans once roamed the Earth. These included well-known relatives like Neanderthals, as well as Homo Naledi and Homo Luzonensis, as suggested by recent fossil discoveries. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like This Could Be the Best Time to Trade Gold in 5 Years IC Markets Learn More Undo Among these, some species lasted millions of years, while others were short-lived experiments in survival. The modern Homo Sapiens didn't just follow other human species; they overlapped with them. Homo sapiens lived alongside Neanderthals and Denisovans, sometimes for thousands of years. In some regions, they shared regional tools and even genes. Interbreeding between Homo sapiens and these relatives left traces in the DNA, especially in populations today outside Africa. These weren't short-lived events; they were complex interactions between intelligent, adaptable beings trying to survive a shifting world. In fact, any of these species wasn't alone; they were part of a larger and connected human world. The mystery of the missing species Despite advances in archaeology and genetics, many early human species remain a mystery. Some are known only from a few bones or teeth, like the Denisovans, for example, whose full skeleton has not been found till date. Instead, their story is put together from fragments and DNA. Scientists continue to debate how many species truly existed, since definitions of "species" can vary. Did they look different enough? Could they have kids together? These uncertainties mean the real number of human species might be far higher than 21. Why could only one species make it to today? The reasons aren't fully clear. It could be that they were more adaptable, better at cooperating, or just luckier. Climate change, competition for resources, and even disease may have wiped out other human species. Some were already disappearing when we arrived. Others may have blended into our gene pool through interbreeding. But there is one certainty that survival wasn't guaranteed; Homo Sapiens' today came at the cost of other lost human lineages.
Scientific American
10-07-2025
- Science
- Scientific American
Ancient Tooth Proteins Rewrite the Rhino Family Tree—Are Dinosaurs Next?
Researchers have described proteins that they say are among the most ancient ever sequenced. Two teams, which analysed molecules from extinct relatives of rhinos and other large mammals, have pushed back the genetic fossil record to more than 20 million years ago. The studies — out in Nature today — suggest that proteins survive better than researchers thought. This raises the possibility of gleaning molecular insights about evolutionary relationships, biological sex and diet from even older animals — maybe even dinosaurs. 'You're just opening up a whole new set of questions that palaeontologists never thought they could get near,' says Matthew Collins, a palaeoproteomics specialist at the University of Cambridge, UK, and the University of Copenhagen. On supporting science journalism If you're enjoying this article, consider supporting our award-winning journalism by subscribing. By purchasing a subscription you are helping to ensure the future of impactful stories about the discoveries and ideas shaping our world today. Preserved in teeth The ability to obtain DNA from remains that are thousands of years old has revolutionized biology, revealing previously unknown human groups such as the Denisovans and rewriting the population history of humans and other animals. The oldest sequenced DNA comes from one-million-year-old mammoth bones and two-million-year-old Arctic sediments. Proteins — biological building blocks encoded by the genome — are hardier than DNA and can push researchers' abilities to use molecules to understand ancient species deeper into the past. How far is contentious. In 2007 and 2009, researchers described shards of protein from 68-million-year-old and 80-million-year-old dinosaur fossils, respectively, but many scientists doubt the claims. A 2017 effort to redo the 2009 work was more convincing, says Enrico Cappellini, a biochemist at the University of Copenhagen. Yet it obtained only a limited number of sequences — the list of amino acids that describes a protein's composition — providing only tentative information about evolutionary relationships, he says. He and his colleagues consider the current benchmark for the oldest evolutionarily informative protein ever discovered to be collagen extracted from a 3.5-million-year-old relative of camels from the Canadian arctic. To push this limit further, in one of the two latest studies, Cappellini's team extracted proteins from the enamel — the mineralized outer layer of teeth — of a 23-million-year-old relative of rhinoceroses. The fossil was found on an island in Canada's High Arctic region in 1986 and stored in an Ottawa museum. A 2024 preprint attributed it to a new, extinct rhino species called Epiaceratherium itjilik. Using mass spectrometry — which detects the weight of a protein fragment, allowing its composition to be inferred — the researchers identified partial sequences from 7 enamel proteins, making up at least 251 amino acids in total. An evolutionary tree integrating these sequences with genome data from living rhinos and of their two Ice Age relatives revealed a surprise. The Epiaceratherium sample belonged to a branch of the rhino family tree that split off earlier than any other: between 41 million and 25 million years ago. Previous studies placed this group among modern rhinos. 'It really does change the way we have to think about the evolution of rhinos,' says Ryan Paterson, a biomolecular palaeontologist at the University of Copenhagen, who co-led the study. Next step, dinosaurs Proteins degrade in the heat. The rhino sample that Paterson and his colleagues analysed came from a polar desert where average temperatures are well below freezing, 'the perfect place' for protein preservation, he says. The Turkana Basin in Kenya could be considered one of the worst — and yet it is the source of fossils as old as 18 million years, from which a second team sequenced enamel proteins. Ground surface temperatures there can reach 70 °C, and climate records suggest Turkana Basin has been 'one of the hottest places in the world for a very long time,' says Daniel Green, an isotope geochemist at Harvard University in Cambridge, Massachusetts, who co-led the study. The Kenyan enamel-protein sequences — from extinct relatives of rhinos, elephants, hippos and other creatures — fit with classifications made by palaeontologists on the basis of the fossils' bone anatomy. But Green hopes that future studies of ancient proteins from Turkana will be able to solve some evolutionary mysteries, such as the origins of hippos. He and his colleagues also hope that ancient proteins can be obtained from early hominin remains found in Turkana Basin. 'Being able to show that we can get back to 18 million years in this kind of really hot, harsh environment, really shows that the world is open for working on palaeoproteomics,' says Timothy Cleland, a physical scientist at the Smithsonian Museum Science Conservation Institute in Suitland, Maryland, who co-led the Turkana study. He's especially interested in trying to get proteins out of the teeth of dinosaurs, but that will be a challenge, because their enamel is especially thin, he says. The studies are a major technical achievement, says Deng Tao, a palaeontologist at the Institute of Vertebrate Paleontology and Paleoanthropology in Beijing. But as researchers look even further back in time for ancient proteins, he hopes the results will be able to support meaningful insights into the history of life, 'rather than just a competitive pursuit of the oldest records'. Although the studies focus on evolutionary relationships, Collins is more excited about the prospects of gathering other insights from ancient proteins, including data on biological sex — based on the potential presence of types of enamel protein that are found only in animals with Y chromosomes — and information about where an animal sits in the food chain, written in nitrogen isotopes in amino acids, he says. 'What can you do with it? Everything. It's like, wow!'
Time of India
01-07-2025
- Science
- Time of India
Dragon Man, scientists find ancient Chinese ethnicity dating back a myriad years
A recent science roundup has drawn attention to new interpretations of the 'Dragon Man' fossil, a remarkably preserved ancient human skull discovered in northeastern China in the 1930s. Previously proposed as a new species named Homo longi , recent research now links it more closely to the Denisovans—a little-understood hominin group known mostly from DNA and fragmentary fossils. This shift is based on both morphological comparisons and genetic evidence, which show that Dragon Man shares key features with known Denisovan remains. Estimated to be over 140,000 years old, the Dragon Man skull could be the most complete Denisovan specimen ever found. Its discovery challenges prior assumptions about the geographic range and diversity of the Denisovans , who are believed to have interbred with early modern humans in Asia. The skull's size, thick brow ridges, and robust jaw align with what little is known about Denisovan anatomy from bone fragments found in Siberia and Tibet. If confirmed, this fossil would help bridge major gaps in the human evolutionary timeline and shed light on the physical characteristics of a group previously known mostly through genetic studies. Live Events It also raises the possibility that other fossils previously assigned to Homo erectus or unidentified archaic humans in Asia may belong to the Denisovan lineage. Further study of the Dragon Man skull could help scientists better understand how Denisovans adapted to diverse climates, interacted with other hominins, and contributed to the genetic makeup of modern human populations in Asia and Oceania.
