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Xinhua News Agency, Nanjing, July 18 (Reporter Ke Gaoyang) There has been new progress in the field of ancient human genetic research. Chinese scientists have proved through genome research that an extinct ancient human had genetic exchanges with early modern humans tens of thousands of years ago. The relevant research results have been published in the international academic journal Science recently.

Li Liming, the first author of the paper and professor of the Department of Genetics and Developmental Biology at the School of Medicine of Southeast University, said that Neanderthals were an ancient human species that was mainly distributed in the western part of Eurasia and became extinct about 30,000 years ago. How did the ancient humans become extinct and what is their connection with modern humans? These questions have been the focus of scientific attention since the first Neanderthal bone was discovered in the 19th century.

Li Liming collaborated with researchers from Princeton University in the United States to map the gene flow between different types of human groups over the past 200,000 years using the genomes of 2,000 modern humans, three Neanderthals, and one Denisovan (a Neanderthal-like group living in Asia). The study identified modern human DNA in the Neanderthal genome by simulating the complex gene flow patterns between modern humans and Neanderthals. The results showed that the Neanderthal population gradually decreased over time, and began to exchange genes with early modern humans, whose populations dominated, about 50,000 to 60,000 years ago, and gradually integrated into the gene pool of modern humans.

Reviewers of Science magazine believe that this study provides genetic evidence for "Neanderthals being assimilated by modern humans", helps reveal the history of genetic exchanges between early modern humans and Neanderthal groups, and further clarifies the evolution and development path of ancient humans. (End)