A male Denisovan mandible from Pleistocene Taiwan

• 成果类型: Article
• 署名作者: Tsutaya, Takumi; Sawafuji, Rikai; Taurozzi, Alberto J.; Fagernaes, Zandra; Patramanis, Ioannis; Troche, Gaudry; Mackie, Meaghan; Gakuhari, Takashi; Oota, Hiroki; Tsai, Cheng-Hsiu; Olsen, Jesper V.; Kaifu, Yousuke; Chang, Chun-Hsiang; Cappellini, Enrico; Welker, Frido
• 署名单位: University of Copenhagen; Graduate University for Advanced Studies - Japan; Kyushu University; University of Copenhagen; University College Dublin; University of Turin; Kitasato University; Kanazawa University; Kanazawa University; University of Tokyo; National Taiwan University; National Taiwan University; National Museum of Nature and Science; University of Tokyo; Tunghai University
• 刊物名称: SCIENCE
• ISSN/ISSBN: 0036-8685
• DOI: 10.1126/science.ads3888
• 发表日期: 2025-04-10
• 页码: 176-180
• 关键词: genome sequence; HISTORY; cave; dna

摘要

Denisovans are an extinct hominin group defined by ancient genomes of Middle to Late Pleistocene fossils from southern Siberia. Although genomic evidence suggests their widespread distribution throughout eastern Asia and possibly Oceania, so far only a few fossils from the Altai and Tibet are confidently identified molecularly as Denisovan. We identified a hominin mandible (Penghu 1) from Taiwan (10,000 to 70,000 years ago or 130,000 to 190,000 years ago) as belonging to a male Denisovan by applying ancient protein analysis. We retrieved 4241 amino acid residues and identified two Denisovan-specific variants. The increased fossil sample of Denisovans demonstrates their wider distribution, including warm and humid regions, as well as their shared distinct robust dentognathic traits that markedly contrast with their sister group, Neanderthals.