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

A previously unknown human ancestral lineage in Africa interbred with modern humans and left genetic traces in present-day populations, according to research analyzing DNA patterns. Scientists identified this "ghost lineage" — a population that no longer exists and left no direct descendants — through variations in the genomes of contemporary African individuals. The research suggests this extinct group made substantial genetic contributions to modern humans before disappearing from the archaeological record.

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