Emily Chan
The latest Denisovan discovery was made in 2022 when researchers identified a molar at a cave in Laos. This clue was what placed Denisovans in Southeast Asia for the first time.
Denisovans interbred with ancestors of modern humans. Their DNA may have given modern humans some advantages in certain climates, such as helping Tibetans and Sherpas live at high altitudes. Denisovan DNA may have also contributed to fat and blood sugar levels, as well as modern immune systems.
Neanderthals also interbred with modern humans, as previous research has shown. Denisovans and Neanderthals even interbred with each other.
The first known Denisovan-Neanderthal hybrid was found in 2012. The evidence came from a long shard of bone that belonged to a 13-year-old female. Radiocarbon dating suggested that the bone was over 50,000 years old.
It’s unclear why the Denisovans went extinct. One of the reasons could have been an overlap with H. sapiens populations between 40,000 and 50,000 years ago, which led to heavy competition for resources.
Overall, the discoveries detailed above have helped inform researchers about the Denisovans’ interactions with Neanderthals and how they relate to modern humans.
The first study linked to Denisovans was published in 2010 in the journal Nature.
