Are There Hidden Signs That Suggest You Might Have Denisovan DNA? — Here Are 6 Clues Scientists Have Found

A long time ago, the modern human species wasn’t the only human alive. They lived with at least 8 other hominins, including some of our closest relatives, the Neanderthals and Denisovans. Scientists have confirmed that our species, Homo sapiens, has interbred with both of them, which is why, up to this day, some people are estimated to still carry tiny pieces of their DNA, even if it is not obvious on the outside.

For this article, let’s focus on Denisovans and what could be the hidden signs that someone would still have their genes. They are a puzzling group of archaic humans who roamed and lived in parts of Asia and Oceania. This is also where experts think they met our ancestors, mated with them, and passed on some of their DNA. So, here are a few hints that could suggest you are one of those people who might have Denisovan genes.

However, keep in mind that before we dive in, the only reliable method to confirm if you have Denisovan DNA is genetic testing. These signs are not observable or obvious to the naked eye, and the associations of genes inherited from another human species ancestor are complex. With all that said, let’s explore some clues.

Adaptation to High Altitudes

One of the strongest clues is the ability to live in high-altitude places. This is because Denisovans were thought to have adapted to survive in mountainous regions like the Tibetan plateau. Scientists also found evidence of Denisovan DNA being passed down to the people in those areas, such as the Tibetans.

Experts identified a key genetic variant named the EPAS1 gene, which is specifically linked to adaptations in low-oxygen environments such as the habitats in higher altitude places. It is a gene that helps the human body to regulate oxygen circulation much more efficiently to prevent diseases or sickness, primarily attributed to living in high altitudes.

Read more: PubMed Central

Enhanced Immune Traits

What Does It Mean If You Have Denisovan DNA

Another is a strong immune reaction to certain types of illnesses. As mentioned, the clues will not be obvious to the naked eye. This hint came from scientists finding some Denisovan gene fragments in the genome that influence how our human bodies fight off infections.

In the past, these may have helped our ancestors who recently migrated to the area where Denisovans lived. Their interbreeding could have given Homo sapiens the necessary immune system to survive and thrive in the new environment they had just moved to, in which Denisovans probably already had the defense mechanisms for.

Read more: PubMed Central

Body Traits and Physique

Denisovan fossils are rare, and they have only left us a few bone fragments and traces of their DNA. However, using these genetic instructions, scientists tried to reconstruct what they could have looked like and predict some of their features. Some of the few pieces we have are parts of their skull, teeth, and jaws.

Using all these parts and their DNA, scientists believe that Denisovans were probably strong, had a broad body, and had thick bones. These are also features that they could have adapted to be able to live in a colder climate. This is because these body configurations would have helped them retain heat much more efficiently.

Brain and Skull Architecture

We Finally Found A Denisovan Skull!

DNA doesn’t just affect our bodies; it also contains the instructions for how our skulls and brains are shaped. So by combining the DNA findings with fossil remains, scientists were able to discover some unique characteristics of Denisovan skulls. These traits could be the presence of a broader skull, thicker brow ridges, and a lower forehead than Homo sapiens.

Although most people today will probably not exhibit these characteristics, as they won’t be an observable sign. It is still an important clue that could help scientists trace where in the human family tree the Denisovan could have their genes inserted. Combine these with other clues, and you may just find how likely that your ancestors may have mated with Denisovans.

Read more: Science Daily

Cold and Environmental Adaptations

Denisovans also lived for hundreds of thousands of years, which meant that they survived several warm and glacial periods. They are believed to have evolved to be able to regulate their body temperature efficiently and store fat even in cold environments. This is most likely how they could survive habitats with high altitudes, thin air, isolation, and fluctuating climates.

These traits could have been inherited and influence one’s body’s response to extreme weather conditions. You could have better tolerance to cold or have the ability to conserve energy better than most. But again, these effects, if they are present, would be too subtle to feel. Still, they are ancient adaptations that our ancestors could have received from Denisovans, and helped them in their journey moving forward.

Where Your Ancestors Came From

Where are all the Denisovans? Ancient DNA

The last clue and possibly the most telling would be the geographic location where your ancestors originated. It is because individuals whose ancestors came from Africa and Europe most likely have little to no Denisovan DNA. Scientists traced the fossils and DNA of Denisovans and found that they lived and wandered across Asia, including Siberia, Tibet, Southeast Asia, and Oceania

These are the places that would most likely have a population that inherited Denisovan DNA. So, if your family roots came from these places, that could be a hidden sign of increased probability that you could also have those genes. It was also found that people from Papua New Guinea, Australia, and the Pacific Islands have the highest concentration of Denisovan DNA out of everyone. They have up to 5% of their DNA coming from Denisovans.

In other words, the ancestors of these islands and nations in the Pacific and Oceania most likely met and interbred with Denisovans before they spread heavily in the region. Geography itself may be the biggest clue in this list. So, do you think you might have Denisovan DNA, or maybe you could have a sign of inheriting Neanderthal DNA instead?

Author's Final Thoughts

Denisovans, along with Neanderthals, are one of the closest known extinct relatives of the modern human species, Homo sapiens. We have met them along our journey of migrating out of Africa, and interbred with some of their groups. This most likely helped our ancestors survive a new environment that they had just arrived in.

Only a DNA test can confirm whether someone has Denisovan DNA in their genetics. However, it is still powerful to know that pieces of these archaic human species could still live within us. It is a reminder that our story and theirs are possibly linked forever.

Read next: Why Did Early Humans Begin to Develop Different Skin Tones Over the Past 100,000 Years? — Here’s What Researchers Found Out

References & Further Reading

Huerta-Sánchez, E., et al. (2014). Altitude adaptation in Tibetans caused by introgression of Denisovan-like DNA. Nature. https://www.nature.com/articles/nature13408

Vespasiani, D. M., et al. (2022). Denisovan introgression has shaped the immune system of present-day Papuans. PLoS Genetics. https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC9731433/

Koller, D., et al. (2022). Denisovan and Neanderthal archaic introgression contributes to complex trait genetics in modern populations. BMC Biology. https://bmcbiol.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/s12915-022-01449-2

Chen, F., et al. (2019). A late Middle Pleistocene Denisovan mandible from the Tibetan Plateau. Nature. https://www.nature.com/articles/s41586-019-1139-x

Racimo, F., et al. (2015). Evidence for archaic adaptive introgression in humans. PMC (review). https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4478293/