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Scientists Uncover "Ghost Genes" That Predate The Dawn Of Life
New research into "universal paralog" genes reveals that the Last Universal Common Ancestor (LUCA) was not the first spark of life, but a successor that inherited complex genetic tools from an even older, "pre-LUCA" ecological system.
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Mass Burial Site In Jordan Offers New Insights Into History's First Major Pandemic
Researchers believe this discovery provides a unique and important opportunity to understand the impact of one of the world's earliest major epidemics.
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Ancient DNA Shows Genetic Link Between Egypt And Mesopotamia
Ancient DNA has revealed a genetic link between the cultures of ancient Egypt and Mesopotamia, according to research published Wednesday in the journal Nature. This finding is significant as it gives evidence of an insight hinted in earlier works.
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China’s Dragon Man Skull Found to Belong to Denisovan Lineage
A 146,000-year-old skull discovered in Harbin, China, has been confirmed as Denisovan using ancient DNA and protein analysis. Named “Dragon Man,” the fossil is the most complete Denisovan specimen to date, offering a new understanding of human evolution and Denisovan presence across Ice Age Asia.
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6,000-Year-Old Skeletons Have Distinctive DNA With No Link To Modern Humans
The ancient human skeletons date from 500 to 6,000 years ago.
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Genetic Study Reveals Maya Civilization’s Collapse Was a Reorganization
A groundbreaking genetic study published in Current Biology reveals that the Maya civilization didn’t mysteriously vanish around 1,200 years ago, as once thought. By analyzing ancient genomes from Copán in western Honduras, researchers discovered strong genetic continuity from the Late Archaic era to modern Maya groups. This evidence challenges ...
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7,100-Year-Old Skeleton Reveals Unknown Human Lineage in China
A groundbreaking study of a 7,100-year-old skeleton found in Yunnan, China, has revealed a "ghost" human lineage previously known only through genetic inference. The woman, named Xingyi_EN, belonged to a deeply divergent group called the Basal Asian Xingyi lineage, which may have contributed to modern Tibetan ancestry. This discovery, along with ev...
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Scientists Revive Dire Wolves Using Ancient DNA and Modern Gene Editing
In a landmark scientific achievement, three dire wolf pups have been born using reconstructed DNA from fossils, marking the species’ return after being extinct for over 12,000 years. Dallas-based Colossal Biosciences led the project, using gene editing to implant dire wolf traits into grey wolf embryos, which were then carried by domestic dog sur...
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Ancient Europeans Retained Dark Skin, Hair and Eyes Until the Iron Age, Claims New Study
A genetic study analysing 348 ancient DNA samples reveals that most prehistoric Europeans had dark skin, hair, and eyes well into the Iron Age. Although genes for lighter pigmentation appeared around 14,000 years ago, they remained rare until about 3,000 years ago. Lighter skin may have been advantageous for vitamin D production, while lighter eyes...
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Ancient DNA Sheds Light on the Diverse Genetic Origins of the European Huns
A new study has analysed ancient DNA from 370 individuals buried between the fourth and sixth centuries, revealing that the European Huns were genetically diverse. While some showed direct ties to Xiongnu elites from Mongolia, most carried mixed Northeast Asian ancestry. Researchers found no evidence of a single large-scale migration but instead ob...
-
Scientists Uncover "Ghost Genes" That Predate The Dawn Of Life
New research into "universal paralog" genes reveals that the Last Universal Common Ancestor (LUCA) was not the first spark of life, but a successor that inherited complex genetic tools from an even older, "pre-LUCA" ecological system.
-
Mass Burial Site In Jordan Offers New Insights Into History's First Major Pandemic
Researchers believe this discovery provides a unique and important opportunity to understand the impact of one of the world's earliest major epidemics.
-
Ancient DNA Shows Genetic Link Between Egypt And Mesopotamia
Ancient DNA has revealed a genetic link between the cultures of ancient Egypt and Mesopotamia, according to research published Wednesday in the journal Nature. This finding is significant as it gives evidence of an insight hinted in earlier works.
-
China’s Dragon Man Skull Found to Belong to Denisovan Lineage
A 146,000-year-old skull discovered in Harbin, China, has been confirmed as Denisovan using ancient DNA and protein analysis. Named “Dragon Man,” the fossil is the most complete Denisovan specimen to date, offering a new understanding of human evolution and Denisovan presence across Ice Age Asia.
-
6,000-Year-Old Skeletons Have Distinctive DNA With No Link To Modern Humans
The ancient human skeletons date from 500 to 6,000 years ago.
-
Genetic Study Reveals Maya Civilization’s Collapse Was a Reorganization
A groundbreaking genetic study published in Current Biology reveals that the Maya civilization didn’t mysteriously vanish around 1,200 years ago, as once thought. By analyzing ancient genomes from Copán in western Honduras, researchers discovered strong genetic continuity from the Late Archaic era to modern Maya groups. This evidence challenges ...
-
7,100-Year-Old Skeleton Reveals Unknown Human Lineage in China
A groundbreaking study of a 7,100-year-old skeleton found in Yunnan, China, has revealed a "ghost" human lineage previously known only through genetic inference. The woman, named Xingyi_EN, belonged to a deeply divergent group called the Basal Asian Xingyi lineage, which may have contributed to modern Tibetan ancestry. This discovery, along with ev...
-
Scientists Revive Dire Wolves Using Ancient DNA and Modern Gene Editing
In a landmark scientific achievement, three dire wolf pups have been born using reconstructed DNA from fossils, marking the species’ return after being extinct for over 12,000 years. Dallas-based Colossal Biosciences led the project, using gene editing to implant dire wolf traits into grey wolf embryos, which were then carried by domestic dog sur...
-
Ancient Europeans Retained Dark Skin, Hair and Eyes Until the Iron Age, Claims New Study
A genetic study analysing 348 ancient DNA samples reveals that most prehistoric Europeans had dark skin, hair, and eyes well into the Iron Age. Although genes for lighter pigmentation appeared around 14,000 years ago, they remained rare until about 3,000 years ago. Lighter skin may have been advantageous for vitamin D production, while lighter eyes...
-
Ancient DNA Sheds Light on the Diverse Genetic Origins of the European Huns
A new study has analysed ancient DNA from 370 individuals buried between the fourth and sixth centuries, revealing that the European Huns were genetically diverse. While some showed direct ties to Xiongnu elites from Mongolia, most carried mixed Northeast Asian ancestry. Researchers found no evidence of a single large-scale migration but instead ob...
