Extinct Human Genome Fully Recovered from Fossil

Last week, a team of scientists were able to structure an entire genome of an extinct Denisovan human from a fraction of a finger bone discovered in March 2010.  Denisova Hominin existed during the Paleolithic period.  The actual finger was carbon dated and is assumed to have come from a time around 40,000 BP.  The DNA sequence is so well-covered that it has "fewer errors than most genomes from present-day humans that have been determined to date".  With this data, cloning is entirely possible and the team behind these findings hope their findings will be used in such a way.  

It's hard to believe that all of this was possible with 10 milligrams of a finger bone fragment.  This is one of the most impressive articles I have read, and cannot wait to hear more about this throughout the year.  A paper describing the genome is to be published sometime this year, and should further explain this incredible finding.  

an artist's sketch of denisova hominin

This article goes hand in hand with a couple words from our coat of arms.  'Enlightenment' and 'Knowledge'.  These findings are key for us as a species to understand where we came from.  Evolution is becoming more and more understood as modern science continues to uncover biological secrets from our past.  

ARTICLE: PhysOrg: Entire genome of extinct human decoded from fossil