Scientists Say We’re Still Missing Big Pieces of Our Evolutionary Past — And This Is What They Think Might Be Hiding in the Gaps

There is a lot of evidence indicating that humans evolved over time, but not everyone is convinced that it actually happened. The majority of their reasons are related to religious beliefs. However, even some scientists doubt the theory of evolution because of the number of missing links or gaps in our evolutionary data.

One of the most important evidence of evolution is within every single one of us. Homo Sapiens carry a DNA that contains historical information from the past. This is because of our ability to pass on our genes to the next generation.

Nevertheless, the physical evidence, like fossil remains, and direct observation of evolution in action, are not always complete, and that’s why we have missing links. This article explores why those gaps matter—and what surprising discoveries might one day fill them.

The Concept of Ghost Lineages

In evolutionary biology, ghost lineages refer to species that are thought to have existed at one point in time. Scientists believe it because of phylogenetics and genomic data, but they are considered gaps in our evolutionary past because no fossils have been discovered.

These ghost lineages can highlight where evolution took place, and the important events that could have changed the trajectory of a species, even if physical evidence remains elusive. A good example of this is genetic studies suggest the theorized divergence of Homo Sapiens from the Apes of today, millions of years ago, yet their fossils haven’t surfaced—leading scientists to believe entire lineages have yet to be discovered.

Read more: World of Paleoanthropology

Missing Ape Relatives in Africa

Why Evolution is True (But Not Many People Believe It)

The theory of evolution states that humans, chimpanzees, and other apes evolved from a common ancestor about 5 to 7 million years ago. It also suggests that we came from Africa, before moving on to Eurasia and the rest of the world.

However, prior to the divergence, the history of apes and the common ancestors is largely unknown. There have been no single evidence found before humans’ paths diverged from apes. Scientists attribute this to the poor fossil preservation qualities of African soils.

The current ape species living in Africa for countless decades are currently the closest living relative of Homo Sapiens. So, some researchers theorized that the common ancestor might have migrated to Europe, evolved and developed to survive in those new lands and environment, and then later returned to Africa.

Transitional Fossils & the Myth of a “Missing Link”

The notion that there is one single species we are missing that serves as the transition from apes to humans is not entirely correct. Evolution is not a single direct path; it is a branching process. Famous finds like Australopithecus afarensis (Lucy) and Tiktaalik are transitional forms, which tell us that there are many different branches before Homo Sapiens evolved.

Charles Darwin also highlights that the lack of transitional fossils is due to the complexity and difficulty of the preservation of fossils and not because they do not exist.

Read more: Aeon

Genomic Gaps & Ancient DNA

Even if we found more fossils, there are traits and characteristics that could only be explained by our genomes. For instance, scientists have discovered through genetic analysis of Neanderthal and Denisovan DNA in modern humans that Homo Sapiens interbred with them and other unknown hominins.

Recent studies also confirm that there are thousands of DNA bits that are now deleted but unique to humans, even compared with apes. These deletions are related to brain development and other neuronal functions that fossils will never be able to reveal.

How Understanding The Evolution Gap Can Dramatically Improve Your Life | Eric Edmeades

Author's Final Thoughts

Missing evolutionary pieces, ghost lineages, and gaps in our evidence are frustrating, but they do not negate the overwhelming proof that evolution exists. However, every discovery, whether it is a jawbone in Africa, a tissue remains from Asia, or DNA from a cave in Siberia, will help us understand how humans came to be who they are today.

Read next: 155 New Human Genes Were Discovered — And Scientists Say It’s a Sign of the Ongoing Human Evolution

References & Further Reading

Ragsdale, A. P., et al. (2023). A weakly structured stem for human origins in Africa. Nature. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41586-023-06055-y

Durvasula, A., & Sankararaman, S. (2020). Recovering signals of ghost archaic introgression in African populations. Science Advances. https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC7015685/

Teixeira, J. C., & Hellenthal, G. (2019). Using hominin introgression to trace modern human dispersals. PNAS. https://www.pnas.org/doi/10.1073/pnas.1904824116

Warinner, C., et al. (2022). Paleoproteomics. Chemical Reviews. https://doi.org/10.1021/acs.chemrev.1c00703