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‘Not one, but two’: Stunning discovery rewrites the origins of Homo Sapiens

Produced by: Manoj Kumar

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Lost Origins

Scientists uncovered a hidden chapter in human evolution—modern humans descended from two ancestral populations, not one, making our history far more complex than previously thought.

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Ancestral Split

Around 1.5 million years ago, two human ancestor groups—Group A and Group B—split, possibly due to migration. These groups evolved separately for over a million years.

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The Great Reunion

Roughly 300,000 years ago, Groups A and B came back together, interbred, and eventually gave rise to Homo sapiens, reshaping our understanding of human evolution.

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Genetic Breakdown

Group A contributed 80% of modern human DNA, while Group B made up 20%, showing a previously unknown mix of early human genetics.

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The Neanderthal Link

Group A may have been the ancestor of Neanderthals and Denisovans, suggesting an even deeper connection between modern humans and other ancient hominin species.

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Firefly -A map of prehistoric Africa and Eurasia with animated migration lines showing possible path

Where Did They Live?

Scientists aren’t sure where these groups existed—both could have remained in Africa, or one may have migrated to Eurasia before their eventual reunion.

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Mystery Fossils

The groups may have been linked to Homo erectus or Homo heidelbergensis, but the exact identity of these ancestral populations remains unknown.

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Rewriting Evolution

This discovery challenges the long-held belief that Homo sapiens descended from one single lineage, proving that human evolution was a far more intricate process.

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Beyond Humans

The new genetic method used in this study could revolutionize how scientists study the evolution of other species, from bats and dolphins to chimps and gorillas.

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