Not just Neanderthals: Ghost lineage in Africa left its mark on our DNA

Ars Technica reports that scientists have found evidence of a third ancient human lineage mixed into our DNA—separate from Neanderthals and Denisovans. Using newly developed analytical techniques, researchers detected signals of interbreeding with this unknown group before modern humans ever left Africa. The puzzle: while the DNA is clearly there in modern human genomes, researchers have no sample from the source population itself, making it what scientists call a 'ghost lineage.' Without an actual genome from this group to examine, the details of who they were remain a mystery—for now.

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