Advancements in genetic sequencing has allowed genomic research to flourish. DNA sequencing is now much faster, cheaper and accurate than ever before, and we’re only now beginning to reap the rewards. It’s the first step to a complete understanding of our bodies. The Human Genome Project, once finally completed, mapped and identified all the genes of the human genome. This helps us get an idea of where are, but to understand how we got here, we also need to peek into ancient DNA. For instance, a recent study found that Tibetans share at least one gene with the ancient Denisovans, an ancient human species that interbred with the Tibetan homo sapiens ancestors. Ironically, the Denisovans’ extinctions was pushed by the homo sapiens presence.
You know what Neanderthals looked like and can imagine what a throwback would look like today. But Denisovans could look like Liam Nielson or a big Mel Brooks. They interbred with Neanderthals at two seperate epochs between 20 to 60 thousand years ago. Denisovan mixed offspring would lose some stature but Neanderthal mothers had babies with such huge heads many would die in childbirth. It is possible modern humans evolved from the mutation prone Denisovans. The ancient interbreeding between species occured in Europe but mostly in China and Asia but not in Africa. Africans are the most pure breed if you will. Racism is more of a recent cultural development in my eyes probably an outgrowth of Empire building.