Produced by: Mohsin Shaikh
A mysterious extinct species, the Denisovans, seeded their genes in modern humans, leaving enigmatic traces that still influence our biology today.
While Neanderthals often steal the spotlight, Denisovans—another close relative—played a pivotal role in shaping humanity, according to Trinity College researchers Linda Ongaro and Emilia Huerta-Sanchez.
Denisovan genes didn’t just vanish; they provided us with lasting advantages, influencing traits like immunity, resilience, and adaptation to harsh environments.
“Humans didn’t evolve neatly from a single line,” explains Ongaro. Interbreeding with Denisovans and other hominins was critical in shaping the people we are today.
Compared to Neanderthals, Denisovan evidence is scarce, limited to a handful of bones. In 2010, a Denisovan finger bone hinted at a previously unknown branch of humanity.
Denisovan genes spread from Siberia to Oceania, influencing populations across Asia and Oceania, leaving a wide-reaching legacy that endures today.
Modern genomes reveal Denisovan DNA entered human genes on at least three occasions, adapting us to diverse environments across Asia, Oceania, and beyond.
Denisovan DNA aids survival in extreme conditions—Tibetans withstand high altitudes, Papuans strengthen immunity, and Inuit populations endure cold thanks to these ancient genes.
“There’s so much more to learn about the Denisovans’ impact,” says Ongaro. Her study in Nature Genetics calls for deeper exploration, especially in understudied populations, to uncover hidden traces of Denisovan ancestry.