"Interbred with Ancestors of Modern Africans, Study Suggests" Topic

"Previous studies have concluded that the forebears of modern humans in Asia and Europe interbred with other early hominin species, including Neanderthals and Denisovans.

The new research is among more recent genetic analyses indicating that ancient Africans also had trysts with other early hominins.

"It seems that interbreeding between different early hominin species is not the exception — it's the norm," said co-lead author Dr. Omer Gokcumen, of the State University of New York at Buffalo.

"Our research traced the evolution of one of the most abundant proteins in human saliva, mucin-7, which helps give spit its slimy consistency and binds to microbes, potentially helping to rid the body of disease-causing bacteria."…"
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Amicalement
Armand

You know, I'm pretty sure that if you normally interbreed with something, it is NOT another species.

Robert for the win!

Dan

Zebras and horses, lions and tigers can interbreed

Doesn't interbreeding depend on the genetic distance of the species in question? Say, for example, coyotes, wolves, and domestic dogs are all different species, but can interbreed to produce fertile offspring, but a horse and a donkey result in a sterile mule. I think the dog/wolf/coyote are very close, while horse/donkey are close but no cigar.

Also, in the hybrid ligers and tigons, these were long thought to be sterile, but in rare cases have produced second generations.

In the case of early Homo sapiens sapiens, Neanderthals, Denisovans, and the African mystery hominid, it was all the same genus, different species.

Good point!.

Amicalement
Armand

Guys,

Robert did say "normally".

Dan
PS. Soon, even the Sulimov dog-jackal hybrids won't be able to "lie" like a dog: :)
rbth.com/longreads/jackals