Scientists claim they have recreated a skull and some other features of Denisovan, an extinct group of archaic humans in the genus Homo, after analyzing their DNA. The genetic material used to reconstruct a skeleton profile were collected from the finger bone of female Denisovan. The population is largely known from small bone fragments and teeth recovered from Denisova cave of south-central Siberia in the Altai mountains. According to scientists, Denisovans may have occupied the cave to around 50,000 years ago. The precise anatomical features of Denisovans, an extinct cousin of Neanderthals, itself an extinct species or subspecies of archaic humans who lived within Eurasia from circa 400,000 until 40,000 years ago, is not known. 

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Relation with Homo Sapiens

Even after a jaw fragment was reported from China which was at least 16,000 years old, it gave very little sign regarding the look of Denisovans. “Interestingly, many of the Denisovan traits we reconstruct were identified in Middle and Late Pleistocene fossils from China. These fossils display various Neanderthal-like characteristics, but their phylogenetic classification remains undetermined,” the report read. The Homo sapiens, modern-day people, interbred with both Denisovans and Neanderthals but didn’t evolve from any of them. The interbreeding led to picking of some genetic markers still detectable in some populations.

'First reconstruction of the skeletal anatomy of Denisovans'

In addition to the Denisovan finger bone, scientists used DNA data from two Neanderthals, five ancient and 55 present-day members of our own species, and five chimps.  Liran Carmel of the Hebrew University of Jerusalem and others reported the results on September 19. "We provide the first reconstruction of the skeletal anatomy of Denisovans," said Carmel. "In many ways, Denisovans resembled Neanderthals but in some traits they resembled us and in others they were unique," he added.

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The cousin of Neanderthals

Scientists identified 32 anatomical traits that indicated differences in the appearance of all the species used and gave clues to the Denisovan skeleton. Since it is known as the cousin of Neanderthals, it shared most of the traits with them including robust jaws, a low forehead, a large ribcage and a wide pelvis. The report also indicated that Denisovans had a wider face than Neanderthals and our own species. Such DNA analysis can teach scientists about how our forerunners evolved and how their development differed,” Carmel said.

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(With AP inputs)