DOI
10.1126/science.abb6320
Abstract
A late Middle Pleistocene mandible from Baishiya Karst Cave (BKC) on the Tibetan Plateau has been inferred to be from a Denisovan, an Asian hominin related to Neanderthals, on the basis of an amino acid substitution in its collagen. Here we describe the stratigraphy, chronology, and mitochondrial DNA extracted from the sediments in BKC. We recover Denisovan mitochondrial DNA from sediments deposited ~100 thousand and ~60 thousand years ago (ka) and possibly as recently as ~45 ka. The long-term occupation of BKC by Denisovans suggests that they may have adapted to life at high altitudes and may have contributed such adaptations to modern humans on the Tibetan Plateau.
Document Type
Post-print Article
Publication Date
10-30-2020
Publisher Statement
Copyright © 2020, The Authors, some rights reserved; exclusive licensee American Association for the Advancement of Science. No claim to original U.S. Government Works. https://www.sciencemag.org/about/science-licenses-journal-article-reuse. This is an article distributed under the terms of the Science Journals Default License.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1126/science.abb6320.
The definitive version is available at: Science 30 Oct 2020:
Vol. 370, Issue 6516, pp. 584-587.
Recommended Citation
Zhang, Dongju, Huan Xia, Fahu Chen, Bo Li, Viviane Slon, Ting Cheng, Melinda A. Yang, et al. “Denisovan DNA in Late Pleistocene Sediments from Baishiya Karst Cave on the Tibetan Plateau.” Science 370, no. 6516 (October 30, 2020): 584–87. https://doi.org/10.1126/science.abb6320.