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Phys.Org:Oldest hominin DNA sequenced

The story is about a report on the sequencing of DNA from hominin bones recovered from The Sima de los Heusos (Bone Pit) in Spain. A large number of skeletons have been discovered there and the authors and their team have managed to sequence the MtDNA (mitochondrial DNA) from one of the bones. The skeleton is about 400,000 years old. The DNA shows a resemblance to that of the Denisovans. The Denisovans were a group of hominins who shared some of their DNA with us, and with the Neanderthals. This was somewhat surprising as the skeletons recovered from the pit show some Neanderthaloid traits. They predate the Neanderthals by 150 to 200 thousand years and are assumed to be their ancestors.

Bill Gill

The human family tree is beginning to look more and more like a creeping vine. All sorts of relationships abound. It will be interesting to see if they can retrieve nuclear DNA.

John Hawks has a discussion of the report on the discovery of Denisovan genes in the Sima de los Heusos fossils. Basically he says that the idea that the Sima fossils were ancestors of the Neanderthals was basically speculation, based on the fact that they were in the right place at the right time. He feels that the ancestry of any of the groups found in various places in the world is much more complex than the idea that there is a clear line of descent in any one place. He feels that there was a lot of moving around from time to time and place to place that has muddled the picture we have held.

Bill Gill