A recent study from the University of Cambridge reveals that modern humans descended from two distinct ancestral populations, referred to as Group A and Group B. These groups diverged around 1.5 million years ago due to a migration event and reunited approximately 300,000 years ago to form Homo sapiens. Group A contributed 80% of modern humans' genetic material while Group B contributed 20%. This finding is based on DNA analysis from the 1000 Genomes Project, indicating a more nuanced understanding of human evolutionary history that challenges the notion of a single lineage origin.
While the emergence of Homo sapiens occurred around 300,000 years ago, evidence now suggests that modern humans descended from at least two ancestral populations.
The research relies on modern human DNA analysis from the 1000 Genomes Project, allowing researchers to infer ancestral populations without ancient physical samples.
Although the study confirms that Homo sapiens first appeared around 200,000 to 300,000 years ago, it posits that two distinct lineages existed prior to that.
Our understanding of human evolution is evolving; scientists now recognize complexities involving at least two ancestral groups that laid the groundwork for modern humans.
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