Summoning the Ghosts of Our Past: The Denisovan Revelation
Earlier this year, David Gokhman undertook an extraordinary task: to bring an ancient ghost back to life. As a Ph.D. student at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Gokhman sought to reconstruct the elusive Denisovans, a mysterious ancient human species known to have roamed Asia for thousands of years. However, the evidence of their existence was scant, limited to a pinky bone, a skull fragment, a fractured jaw, and a few teeth.
Unveiling the Ghost
To breathe life into these spectral remnants, Gokhman turned to the most compelling trace of their existence: ancient DNA. Through an impressive scientific feat, Gokhman and his colleagues mapped out a proposed Denisovan skeleton using information encoded in DNA extracted from a pinky bone. Their research, published in the journal Cell, offers a comparative look at how this mysterious hominin measured up against Homo sapiens and Neanderthals.
“Using this [method] to reconstruct the past is so exciting,” says María Martinón-Torres, director of Spain’s National Research Center on Human Evolution. “It’s a scientific wonderland.”
Visualizing Humanity’s Lost Relative
Using DNA analysis, scientists have determined how Denisovans differed physically from modern humans and Neanderthals. Denisovans resembled Neanderthals in many key traits: robust jaws, low craniums, wide pelvises, and large rib cages. However, they also displayed distinct differences.
This groundbreaking research, funded in part by the National Geographic Society, hints that more Denisovan remains might be hiding in plain sight. Across Asia, numerous fossils don’t neatly fit into the established branches of the hominin family tree. Many languish in paleo-purgatory, labeled as “archaic Homo” due to the lack of Denisovan bones for comparison and the difficulty of DNA extraction in the region’s heat.
The Journey of Discovery
The discovery of the Denisovans in 2010 was a landmark moment in science. DNA extracted from a pinky bone and a hefty tooth found in Siberia’s Denisova Cave revealed a new group of humans, marking the first time a species was identified based on genetic information alone. “There was a lot of mystery,” recalls Liran Carmel from the Hebrew University of Jerusalem, who led the new study’s research team.
Over the years, continued genetic study has gradually illuminated the Denisovans. They split from their Neanderthal relatives at least 400,000 years ago. While Neanderthals settled in Europe and the Middle East, Denisovans spread eastward across Asia. They interbred with our ancient ancestors, leaving genetic fingerprints in modern Asian populations.
Decoding the Denisovan Skeleton
Traditionally, paleoanthropologists have relied on fossil skeletons to identify ancient hominins. However, the paucity of Denisovan remains meant there was no way to put a face to the name. This challenge spurred Carmel and his team to innovate. The DNA’s chemical “letters” encode instructions for creating proteins, which in turn influence physical characteristics. But this genetic material can’t be read like a book; scientists must decipher how genes interact and influence one another.
One mechanism that regulates gene activity is methylation, the attachment of chemical tags to DNA. Loss of methylation can lead to diseases such as cancer. Fortuitously, methylation patterns are preserved in ancient DNA, allowing scientists to study them.
A year after the Denisovan discovery, Gokhman and his team began studying these methylation patterns in the genomes of Neanderthals and modern humans. They tied certain patterns to anatomical features or diseases. But could they use methylation to predict the physical traits of the Denisovans?
Predicting the Physical Features
Gokhman, now a postdoctoral fellow at Stanford University, recounts the uncertainty of their endeavor: “We weren’t sure at all what we were going to get because it was never done before.” The researchers consulted a modern database of genetic mutations linked to human diseases. They used this information to predict how methylation might affect Denisovan physical features.
To ensure accuracy, the team only predicted skeletal aspects that could be reasonably tied back to genes. For instance, they included features controlled by multiple genes only if all genes suggested the same direction of change.
The Legacy of the Denisovans
This pioneering work not only sheds light on the Denisovans but also helps identify other mysterious fossils. The research suggests a Denisovan identity for a pair of fragmented skulls found near Xuchang, China. Moreover, it addresses a broader question: what makes us human? As Carmel reflects, “This is a big step to answer this question.”
In conclusion, the journey of Gokhman and his team from a pinky bone to a proposed Denisovan skeleton is a testament to the power of scientific ingenuity. Their work brings us closer to understanding our ancient relatives and, ultimately, ourselves. The Denisovans, once ghosts of our past, are now emerging from the shadows, their stories etched in the very DNA that courses through the veins of humanity.
