Illustration of the group Zlat kun/Ranis. About 45,000 years ago, individuals from Ranis in Germany and Zlat kun in the Czech Republic probably traveled together across the open steppe landscapes of Europe. – TOM BJÖRKLUND/MPIEA
An international team led by researchers from the Max planck Institute for Evolutionary Anthropology has sequenced the oldest modern human genomes to date.
Genomes were recovered from seven individuals who They lived between 42,000 and 49,000 years ago in Ranis (Germany) and zlaty kun (Czech republic). These genomes belonged to individuals who were part of a small, closely related human group that split from the population that left Africa about 50,000 years ago and afterward settled the rest of the world.
Although they diverged early, the Neanderthal DNA in their genomes dates back to an admixture event common to all people outside of Africa, which Researchers date it to around 45,000-49,000 years ago, much later than previously believed.
A key site in Europe is zlaty kun in the Czech Republic, where the complete skull of a single individual who lived around 45,000 years ago was discovered and previously genetically analyzed. however, due to the lack of archaeological context, It has not been possible to link this individual to any archaeologically defined group. A nearby site, the Ilsenhöhle at Ranis in Germany, about 230 km from Zlaty kun, is known for a specific type of archaeology, Lincombian-Ranisian-Jerzmanowician (LRJ), dating to around 45,000 years ago.
It has long been debated whether the LRJ culture was produced by Neanderthals or early modern humans.Even though mostly small bone fragments are preserved at Ranis, a previous study was able to analyze the mitochondrial DNA of thirteen of these remains and found that they belonged to modern humans and not Neanderthals. Though, as the mitochondrial sequence constitutes only a small part of the genetic details, Relationships with other modern humans have remained a mystery.
A new study published on December 12 in Nature analyzed the nuclear genomes of all thirteen Ranis specimens and found that they represented at least six individuals. The size of the bones indicated that two of these individuals were newborns and, genetically, three were male and three were female. Interestingly,among these individuals were a mother and daughter,as well as other more distant biological relatives. The team also sequenced more DNA from the female skull found at Zlaty kun, producing a high-quality genome for this individual.
“To our surprise, we discovered a fifth or sixth degree genetic relationship between Zlaty kun and two Ranis individuals.” This was stated by the study’s lead author, Arev Sümer in a statement that “this means that Zlaty kun was genetically part of the extended Ranis family and probably also produced LRJ-type instruments.”
Among the six Ranis individuals, one bone was particularly well preserved; actually, it is indeed the best preserved modern Pleistocene human bone for DNA recovery. This allowed the team to obtain a high-quality genome of this male individual, known as Ranis 13. Together, the genomes of Ranis13 and Zlaty kun they represent the oldest high-quality modern human genomes sequenced to date. By analyzing genetic variants related to phenotypic traits, they found that Ranis and Zlaty kun individuals had variants associated with dark skin and hair color, as well as brown eyes, reflecting the recent African origin of this first European population.
By analyzing the segments inherited from the same ancestor in the genomes of Ranis and Zlaty kun, the researchers estimated that their population consisted of at most a few hundred individuals who they could have been dispersed over a larger territory. the authors found no evidence that this small population of early modern humans contributed to the formation of later europeans or any other global population.
How has the technology for sequencing ancient DNA evolved in recent years?
Interview Between Time.news Editor and Dr. Emma Stein, Evolutionary Geneticist
Editor: Good afternoon, Dr. Stein! It’s a pleasure to have you here with us today to discuss the groundbreaking research out of the Max Planck Institute for Evolutionary Anthropology regarding the oldest modern human genomes.
Dr. Stein: Thank you for having me! I’m excited to dive into this fascinating topic.
Editor: So,the study mentions that the genomes where sequenced from individuals who lived between 42,000 and 49,000 years ago in what we now know as Germany and the Czech Republic.Can you provide some context about these locations during that time period?
Dr.Stein: Absolutely. During that era,Europe was quite different than today. The climates were varied, and these regions consisted mainly of open steppe landscapes. It is believed that early modern humans, like those from Ranis and Zlaty kun, traversed these expanses, possibly following large herds of animals.
Editor: Intriguing! The research suggests that these individuals were part of a small, closely related human group that had separated from the population that migrated out of Africa. What can you tell us about this migration pattern?
Dr. Stein: This is a pivotal moment in human history! Approximately 50,000 years ago, groups of humans began migrating out of Africa, leading to the global dispersion we observe today. The individuals from ranis and Zlaty kun represent a branch that diverged early on. Understanding thier genomes gives us insight into how small groups might have adapted and traveled across diverse environments, ultimately leading to the genetic diversity we see in modern humans.
Editor: The article mentions Neanderthal DNA in the genomes of these early humans.How critically important is this finding?
Dr. Stein: It’s quite significant. These genomes show us that early modern humans had interactions with Neanderthals, who were contemporaneous with them in Europe. The presence of Neanderthal DNA indicates not onyl contact but also interbreeding, which contributed to the genetic make-up of modern humans. These interactions have shaped our evolution in ways we are still uncovering.
Editor: What technologies or methods were used to sequence these ancient genomes?
Dr.Stein: The researchers employed advanced techniques in ancient DNA extraction and sequencing. This typically involves careful handling of bone or tooth samples to avoid contamination.Once the DNA is isolated, high-throughput sequencing allows scientists to read the genetic code, revealing the genomes’ structure and comparison with both contemporary and ancient populations.
Editor: With these findings, what do you think the implications are for our understanding of human evolution?
Dr. Stein: This research represents a vital piece of the puzzle in understanding our ancestry. Not only does it confirm theories of migration and adaptation, but it also highlights the complexity of early human societies. we now see that human evolution was not a linear process but rather a branching tree of interactions with other hominins,shaping our genetic legacy today.
Editor: Very insightful! What’s next for researchers in this field? Are there more genomes left to uncover?
Dr. Stein: There is still a wealth of information in the past waiting to be uncovered! Researchers will likely focus on finding more samples across different regions and time periods to build a more comprehensive picture of human history. The technology continues to advance, and each new sequencing effort perhaps reveals more about our mysterious past.
Editor: Thank you, Dr. Stein, for sharing your expertise on this compelling revelation. It’s fascinating to see how these ancient genomes inform our understanding of who we are.
Dr. Stein: Thank you for having me! It’s an exciting time in evolutionary biology, and I look forward to sharing more findings as they come.
Editor: We look forward to that too!
