Human evolution: Denisovan contribution (Introduction)

by David Turell , Saturday, November 09, 2024, 19:27 (12 days ago) @ David Turell

Three major events:

https://phys.org/news/2024-11-insights-denisovans-hominin-group-interbred.html

"'It's a common misconception that humans evolved suddenly and neatly from one common ancestor, but the more we learn the more we realize interbreeding with different hominins occurred and helped to shape the people we are today.

"'Unlike Neanderthal remains, the Denisovan fossil record consists of only that finger bone, a jawbone, teeth, and skull fragments. But by leveraging the surviving Denisovan segments in Modern Human genomes, scientists have uncovered evidence of at least three past events whereby genes from distinct Denisovan populations made their way into the genetic signatures of modern humans."

"Each of these presents different levels of relatedness to the sequenced Altai Denisovan, indicating a complex relationship between these sister lineages.

"In the review article, Dr. Ongaro and Prof. Emilia Huerta-Sanchez outline evidence suggesting that several Denisovan populations, who likely had an extensive geographical range from Siberia to Southeast Asia and from Oceania to South America, were adapted to distinct environments.

"They further outline a number of genes of Denisovan origin that gave modern day humans advantages in their different environments.

"Dr. Ongaro added, "Among these is a genetic locus that confers a tolerance to hypoxia, or low oxygen conditions, which makes a lot of sense, as it is seen in Tibetan populations; multiple genes that confer heightened immunity; and one that impacts lipid metabolism, providing heat when stimulated by cold, which confers an advantage to Inuit populations in the Arctic."

Comment: we are an amalgam of several varieties of HOMO forms which contributed differences based upon their climate of origin. God might have thought this might be the perfect way to create the best final design. To ask why God did not directly do it brings us back to the question of why He used evolution instead of direct creation.