“Recent discoveries and reanalyses of fossil specimens, together with the application of molecular strategies and brand-new dating techniques, have actually exposed unanticipated variety amongst antiquated hominins in eastern Asia throughout the Middle to Late Pleistocene, before the arrival of modern-day people,” stated Dr. Takumi Tsutaya, a scientist at the University of Copenhagen and the Graduate University for Advanced Studies (SOKENDAI), and associates.

“The recognition of Denisovans is an important example of one such improvement.”

“Denisovans were acknowledged as a hominin group unique from Neanderthals and contemporary human beings by examining the DNA of fragmentary bones and teeth excavated from Denisova Cave in the Altai Mountains, Siberia.”

“Their nuclear genome reveals that Denisovans form their own clade as a sis group to Neanderthals, with a computed genomic divergence in between the 2 clades happening more than 400,000 years back.”

“Genetic proof likewise suggests gene circulation in between Denisovans, modern-day people, and Neanderthals.”

“Studies of introgressed Denisovan DNA in contemporary human populations recommend the existence of numerous genomically unique Denisovan populations, as soon as dispersed over a large range throughout continental eastern Asia and potentially in some parts of insular Southeast Asia.”

“Outside Denisova Cave, nevertheless, direct molecular proof of Denisovans has actually just been discovered from a single website on the Tibetan Plateau.”

“At Baishiya Karst Cave, Xiahe, a mandible and a rib have actually been recognized as Denisovan on the basis of their protein series.”

Identified Penghu 1, the brand-new Denisovan fossil was gathered in the 2000s through dredging activities connected with industrial fishing from the sea bottom (60 to 120 m deep) around 25 km off the western coast of Taiwan.

This location lies 4,000 km southeast of Denisova Cave and 2,000 km southeast of Baishiya Karst Cave.

It belonged to the Asian mainland throughout episodes of low water level throughout the Pleistocene.

“Penghu 1 is dated as more youthful than 450,000 years, with a more than likely age series of 10,000 to 70,000 years or 130,000 to 190,000 years, according to micronutrient contents, biostratigraphic proof, and previous sea-level modifications,” the scientists stated.

“Direct uranium dating of Penghu 1 was not successful due to the fact that of the impact of uranium from the seawater.”

Utilizing ancient proteomic analysis, Dr. Tsutaya and coworkers drawn out proteins from bone and oral enamel from the fossil and obtained 4,241 amino acid residues, 2 of which were Denisovan-specific protein variations.

These variations are unusual in modern-day human populations however have a greater frequency in areas related to Denisovan hereditary introgression.

What’s more, morphological analysis of the Penghu 1 stays exposes a robust jaw structure with big molars, and unique root structures, functions that line up with qualities seen in the Tibetan Denisovan specimen, recommending these characteristics were particular of the family tree and possibly sex-specific.

“It is now clear that 2 contrasting hominin groups– small-toothed Neanderthals with high however gracile mandibles and large-toothed Denisovans with low however robust mandibles (as a population or as a male character)– existed together throughout the late Middle to early Late Pleistocene of Eurasia,” the researchers stated.

“Because the latter morphologies are uncommon or missing in the late Early to early Middle Pleistocene fossils from Africa and Eurasia, they are not primitive retentions as formerly recommended however most likely established or were improved in the Denisovan clade after their hereditary separation from Neanderthals more than 400,000 years back.”

“Recent discoveries from insular Southeast Asia (Homo floresiensis and Homo luzonensisand South Africa (Homo naledihighlight the varied advancement of the genus Homocontrasting with the family tree resulting in Humankind“

“The dentognathic morphology of Denisovans can be translated as another such unique advancement that happened in our genus.”

The outcomes were released today in the journal Science

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Takumi Tsutaya et al2025. A male Denisovan mandible from Pleistocene Taiwan. Science 388 (6743 ): 176-180; doi: 10.1126/ science.ads3888