Neandertal and Denisovan DNA from Pleistocene sediments

作者：Slon Viviane; Hopfe Charlotte; Weiss Clemens L; Mafessoni Fabrizio; de la Rasilla Marco; Lalueza Fox Carles; Rosas Antonio; Soressi Marie; Knul Monika V; Miller Rebecca; Stewart John R; Derevianko Anatoly P; Jacobs Zenobia; Li Bo; Roberts Richard G; Shunkov Michael V; de Lumley Henry; Perrenoud Christian; Gusic Ivan; Kucan Zeljko; Rudan Pavao; Aximu Petri Ayinuer; Essel Elena; Nagel Sarah; Nickel Birgit; Schmidt Anna; Pruefer Kay; Kelso Janet; Burbano Hernan A; Paeaebo Svante

来源：Science, 2017, 356(6338): 605-+.

DOI：10.1126/science.aam9695

Although a rich record of Pleistocene human-associated archaeological assemblages exists, the scarcity of hominin fossils often impedes the understanding of which hominins occupied a site. Using targeted enrichment of mitochondrial DNA, we show that cave sediments represent a rich source of ancient mammalian DNA that often includes traces of hominin DNA, even at sites and in layers where no hominin remains have been discovered. By automation-assisted screening of numerous sediment samples, we detected Neandertal DNA in eight archaeological layers from four caves in Eurasia. In Denisova Cave, we retrieved Denisovan DNA in a Middle Pleistocene layer near the bottom of the stratigraphy. Our work opens the possibility of detecting the presence of hominin groups at sites and in areas where no skeletal remains are found.

• 出版日期2017-5-12