Ancient Humans: Genetic Mixing Uncovered in New Study Revising Human Ancestry Theories

A recent study by Cambridge University researchers suggests that modern humans may have a more complex origin than previously thought. Analyzing skeletal remains dating back 300,000 years, the research indicates that modern humans descended not only from a single Homo sapiens group but also from a second, distinct hominin population. The genetic analysis revealed evidence of interbreeding between two ancient human groups approximately 1.5 million years ago, with a subsequent mixing event occurring around 300,000 years ago. This second encounter contributed approximately 20% to the modern human genome. According to Aylwyn Scally, one of the researchers, the findings demonstrate that human history is more intricate than previously imagined, showcasing the potential of genomic analysis to reconstruct past events. Further investigations are expected to explore additional archaeological finds to validate these findings.