DNA analysis of a bone fragment recently discovered in a Siberian cave shows that it came from a child from two distinct species of modern human ancestors, Neanderthals and the Denisovan.
“The bomb fell in 2010: about 2 % of modern human genes come from Neanderthals. This means that some of our Homo sapiens ancestors, the Cro-Magnon men, had affairs with their predecessors. Since then, evidence has been accumulating and shows that Neanderthals seduced not only Homo sapiens but also other species of hominids, including Denisovans. »
Source: LaPresse +, September 9, 2018
“Discovered in 2012 in a cave in the Altai Mountains of Siberia, near the present day border between Russia and Mongolia, '' Denny '' as the researchers called it, belonged to a female being from at least 13 years old, living about 50,000 years ago. The bone would come from his femur, his tibia or his humerus. The cave where she died, known as Denisova, was already famous for having delivered the first fossil remains of Denisova's Man, fragments of a phalanx of a little finger. By analyzing '' Denny '', geneticists were able to distinguish the chromosomes that the young woman inherited from her father and mother. No doubt for them, they were bequeathed to him by a Neanderthal and a Denisovan. "
Source: LaPresse.ca, August 22, 2018
The following activities will allow students to learn more about the “mixing” of hominid species.
SUGGESTED ACTIVITIES
Goals
At the end of the activities, the student will be able to:
– Understand the importance of the discovery of “Denny”;
– Understand certain differences between the various hominids;
– Understand the different stages of human evolution;
– Locate the different species of hominids.
- History and Citizenship Education, Secondary 1
- Science and technology / the living universe / diversity among living beings / the evolution of living beings (1st-2nd secondary)
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