Researchers have determined that our genome — of modern humans — is formed by fragments of at least four different species. Three of those species — Homo Sapiens, Neanderthals, and Denisovans are known to researchers. However, a new study has proven there is a mysterious fourth kind of species which we know nothing about.

A new study of the genomes of Australasia has revealed sections of DNA that do not match those of any known species of hominid on the planet. The finding shows that the family tree of humans is much more complex than previously thought.

A team of researchers at the Institute of Evolutionary Biology (IBE) have published in Nature Genetics the discovery of a new ancestor, hitherto unknown, of modern man.

This is a hominid who lived in Southeast Asia and, like Neanderthals and Denisovans, crossed with our direct ancestor’s tens of thousands of years ago.

Although they have not yet found fossils of the new species, the study authors, Mayukh Mondal and Ferran Casals, highlight the importance of genetic studies to reconstruct the origins of our species.

The discovery took place during genetic analysis of a group of individuals of the Andaman Islands in the Indian Ocean, an isolated population of pygmies that has for more than a century raised numerous paleoanthropological questions.

According to the report:

“We also show that populations from South and Southeast Asia harbor a small proportion of ancestry from an unknown extinct hominid, and this ancestry is absent from Europeans and East Asians”

Applying the most modern analytical techniques, the researchers ran into several fragments of DNA that do not have any correspondence in modern humans who left Africa about 80,000 years ago and ended up populating the rest of the world.

By comparing these foreign gene sequences with the DNA of Neanderthals and Denisovans, whose heritage we have in our genome, scientists could see that there was not a match with any of them.

Therefore, researchers at IBE concluded that the DNA must have belonged to an unknown hominid who shared a common ancestor with the other two species.

It’s the ultimate proof demonstrating that the actual DNA of humans still contains pieces that come from other different ancestors and that we have no clue about our true origins.

According to Jaume Bertranpetit, principal investigator of IBE, “we have found fragments of DNA from an extinct hominid that are part of the genome of modern humans. Shortly we hope to get the full genome from fossil remains.”

For a long time now, numerous investigations have determined that the genome — of modern humans — is formed by fragments of at least four different species. Three of those species – Homo Sapiens, Neanderthals, and Denisovans have been identified by researchers.

Now, researchers have found evidence of the existence of a mysterious fourth kind of species which we know nothing about since researchers have still not found any fossil remains of them.

Could this species be the missing link in the history of mankind?

What we know so far is that there is no doubt that the puzzle of our origins is increasingly complicated.

In order to solve one of the greatest enigmas about the human species, much research will still need to be done.

sourced:

Nature Genetics

Red hair first appeared as the result of a genetic mutation with the first documented case of natural-born redhead occurring in Scotland.

Less than 2% of the world’s population have red hair.

Scotland boasts the highest percentage of natural redheads while Ireland comes in second.

Natural redheads are rare — the gene is recessive — meaning both parents must each be carrying the recessive gene for their child to have red hair.

Natural red hair is less likely to go gray.

A redhead’s ability to produce a pheomelanin also allows them to have a higher resistance to pain.

Although red hair is frequently associated with Scotland, Ireland, and England, people of color can also be born with natural red hair.

For example, places like Morocco and Central Asia have higher proportions of redheads.

In fact, some research suggests that the first redheads were from the Steppes of Central Asia more than 100,000 years ago.

It was caused by a mutation in the M1CR gene which caused hair to turn red, but in return, this mutation is what allowed red-haired folks to be more efficient at absorbing much-needed UV light.

These pioneers from Central Asia eventually migrated throughout Europe and to the British Isles during the Bronze Age.

Science shows that given the small percentage size of the recessive red hair gene out of the world’s population, it could at some point become extinct.

Also, with climate change causing warmer conditions throughout the world, redheads in places like Scotland someday might not need to absorb as much Vitamin D as previously needed.

For now though, redheads continue to be genetic anomalies with a secret gift for thriving in winter.

So for all those natural redheads — you are extremely rare!