First DNA Based Look at A Prehistoric Human Relative
via MOTHERBOARD
Neanderthals and Denisovans, two “archaic humans” that are now extinct, were so closely related to our species that these three groups interbred within the last 40,000 years. But while you might have a mental picture of a Neanderthal, it’s trickier to imagine a Denisovan.
Despite the limitations of the fossil record, scientists have managed to create mesmerizing new portraits and anatomical sketches of Denisovans using DNA extracted from the rare bones they left behind. The results were published on Thursday in the journal Cell.