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Who Has Denisovan DNA?

Medically Reviewed on 2/10/2023
Denisovan DNA
There is no reason to be worried about having Denisovan DNA.

Denisovan DNA is a type of ancient human DNA that has been found in the genomes of some present-day humans. Denisovans were a group of ancient humans who lived in Asia and the Pacific region about 50,000 years ago. They interbred with Neanderthals and modern humans, and their DNA has been passed down through the generations to some present-day people.

Several groups of people are found to have Denisovan DNA in their genomes, including:

  • Melanesians
    • People who live in the Melanesia region of the Pacific, which includes countries, such as Papua New Guinea, the Solomon Islands, and Vanuatu.
    • They have the highest known levels of Denisovan ancestry of any present-day human population, with estimates ranging from 3 to 15 percent of Denisovan DNA.
  • East Asians
    • People from China, Japan, and Korea have been found to have Denisovan DNA in their genomes.
    • The levels of Denisovan ancestry in these populations are generally lower than in Melanesians, with estimates ranging from 0.1 to 0.5 percent.
  • Native Americans
    • Central and South American people have Denisovan DNA in their genomes.
    • The levels of Denisovan ancestry in these populations are generally lower than in Melanesians and East Asians, with estimates ranging from 0.01 to 0.1 percent.

Not all present-day humans have Denisovan DNA in their genomes. The extent to which an individual has Denisovan DNA in their genome depends on the specific populations their ancestors belonged to and the extent of interbreeding between these populations and Denisovans.

What does it mean to have Denisovan DNA?

Having Denisovan DNA refers to genetic material inherited from the Denisovan lineage, a group of ancient hominids that lived in Asia. There are several ways in which a person can have Neanderthal or Denisovan DNA. 

  • Interbreeding
    • Modern humans who lived in Africa and Asia about 50,000 to 60,000 years ago interbred with Denisovans when they migrated out of Africa and into the Denisovans' territories. Many people today have a small amount of Neanderthal or Denisovan DNA in their genomes.
  • Gene flow
    • The transfer of genetic material from one population to another through reproduction. For example, if a person's ancestor interbred with a Denisovan and then passed on some of that genetic material to their descendants, those descendants would have Denisovan DNA.

Should I be worried if I have Denisovan DNA?

There is no reason to be worried about having Denisovan DNA. Having Denisovan DNA is not associated with any adverse health effects or other negative outcomes. It is not uncommon for people to have a small amount of Denisovan DNA in their genetic makeup. 

Denisovan DNA may even have some beneficial effects on specific traits, such as adaptability to high altitudes. Everyone has a diverse genetic heritage and having Denisovan DNA is just one small part of that.

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What are the potential benefits of having Denisovan DNA?

The function and potential benefits of this Denisovan DNA in modern humans are not well understood and research is underway.

  • Adaptation to high altitudes: Denisovans may have lived in high-altitude environments, such as the Tibetan Plateau. Some research suggests that modern humans carrying Denisovan DNA may have inherited genetic adaptations that allow them to tolerate living at high altitudes.
  • Enhanced immune function: Some studies have reported that modern humans who carry Denisovan DNA may have enhanced immune function.
  • Increased resistance to disease: Some studies suggest that Denisovan DNA may protect against certain diseases. For example, one study reported that modern humans who carry Denisovan DNA are less likely to develop diabetes.
  • Improved cognitive function: Some research suggested that Denisovan DNA could be associated with improved cognitive function in modern humans.
  • Enhanced physical abilities: Some studies have reported that modern humans who carry Denisovan DNA may have enhanced physical abilities, such as increased muscle strength and endurance.

These potential advantages are still the subject of scientific research and are not fully understood. Having any particular type of DNA does not confer specific benefits or disadvantages. Rather, the overall genetic makeup of an individual, which is influenced by both inherited and environmental factors, determines physical and behavioral characteristics.

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Medically Reviewed on 2/10/2023
References
Image Source: iStock image

Ancient DNA puts a face on the mysterious Denisovans, extinct cousins of Neanderthals. https://www.science.org/content/article/ancient-dna-puts-face-mysterious-denisovans-extinct-cousins-neanderthals

Denisova Admixture and the First Modern Human Dispersals into Southeast Asia and Oceania. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3188841/

Denisovan introgression has shaped the immune system of present-day Papuans. https://journals.plos.org/plosgenetics/article?id=10.1371/journal.pgen.1010470

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