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Updated: Jul 9, 2026

Optimized Bone Sampling Protocols for the Retrieval of Ancient DNA from Archaeological Remains
Published on: November 30, 2021
A genetic legacy from archaic Homo
John Hawks1, Gregory Cochran, Henry C Harpending
1Department of Anthropology, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI 53706, USA. jhawks@wisc.edu
Abstract:
The roles of fossil human populations in the origin of modern humans have been enigmatic. Earlier (archaic) human populations were biologically similar and were in recurrent temporal and geographic contact, making interbreeding between ancient populations likely. Regardless of the taxonomic status of these populations, adaptive alleles may have introgressed from archaic populations into modern humans. When an introgressed archaic allele has a selective advantage, even rare interbreeding can lead to its spread or fixation in later human populations. Several genetic loci are candidates for such introgression, including microcephalin, a gene influencing brain development. This example may suggest that the evolution of human cognition depended in part on the genetic legacy of archaic groups such as the Neanderthals.
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