Cited by 1,967Pleistocene-Era Hominins and ArchaeologyForensic and Genetic ResearchGenomics and Phylogenetic Studies

A high-coverage genome sequence from an archaic denisovan individual

Open access
Meyer, Matthias, Kircher, Martin, Gansauge, Marie-Theres, Li, Heng, Racimo, Fernando, Mallick, Swapan, Schraiber, Joshua G., Jay, Flora +26 more·2012·Science

Abstract

Ancient Genomics: The Denisovans were archaic humans closely related to Neandertals, whose populations overlapped with the ancestors of modern-day humans. Using a single-stranded library preparation method, Meyer et al. (p. 222 , published online 30 August) provide a detailed analysis of a high-quality Denisovan genome. The genomic sequence provides evidence for very low rates of heterozygosity in the Denisova, probably not because of recent inbreeding, but instead because of a small population size. The genome sequence also illuminates the relationships between humans and archaics, including Neandertals, and establishes a catalog of genetic changes within the human lineage.

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Registry

Crossref · 10.1126/science.1224344

Cites

198 of 198 references verified0 citation errors · 0 not checkable

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  • Some fossils can preserve relatively intact macromolecular organic material, as shown by recent discoveries in fossils and sub-fossils.

    “However, recent discoveries of relatively intact macromolecular organic material in fossils and sub-fossils challenge this view.”

    From Cretaceous dinosaur bone contains recent organic material and provides an environment conducive to microbial communities (2019) · cites this paper as Meyer et al., 2012

    The Abstract reports a 30-fold-coverage genome reconstructed from DNA in a Denisovan bone, supporting the discovery of preserved organic material in a fossil. The “A single-stranded library preparation method” section describes that DNA as fragmented and chemically modified, so the paper does not establish that the macromolecules themselves were relatively intact. No page numbers are available in our copy. (LLM, conf=0.82)

    Experimental — accuracy not yet measured
  • The introgressing Neanderthals were probably from populations separated in time and space from the three high-coverage archaic individuals (DAV).

    “Moreover, the introgressing Neanderthals were probably from populations that were separated both in time and space from the three archaic individuals who have so far been sequenced to high coverage-hereafter referred to as DAV (Denisovan, Altai Neanderthal and Vindija Neanderthal) 1,17,18 .”

    From The nature of Neanderthal introgression revealed by 27,566 Icelandic genomes (2020) · cites this paper as [17]

    The Abstract (page not provided) identifies this paper as reporting a high-coverage Denisovan genome, supporting its citation for the Denisovan member of DAV. It does not establish that the introgressing Neanderthals came from populations separated in time and space from all three named individuals. (LLM, conf=0.87)

    Experimental — accuracy not yet measured
  • Introgression from extinct Neanderthal and Denisovan human species contributes to the genetic pool of modern human populations and their phenotypic spectrum.

    “Introgression from extinct Neanderthal and Denisovan human species has been shown to contribute to the genetic pool of modern human populations and their phenotypic spectrum.”

    From Denisovan and Neanderthal archaic introgression differentially impacted the genetics of complex traits in modern populations (2022) · cites this paper as [13]

    The Abstract and “Denisovan and Neandertal gene flow” section report genetic contributions from both groups to present-day populations, with Denisovan ancestry concentrated in island Southeast Asia and Oceania. The paper does not establish that this introgression contributes to the phenotypic spectrum of modern humans; its discussion of phenotypes concerns other genomic differences and says their functional consequences are difficult to predict. No page numbers are available in our copy. (LLM, conf=0.88)

    Experimental — accuracy not yet measured
  • Neanderthal ancestry is relatively uniform among modern Eurasian populations but is approximately 8 to 24% higher in East Asia than in Europe.

    “While NE ancestry is relatively uniform among modern Eurasian populations (1, 2), it is approximately 8 to 24% higher in East Asia than in Europe (5, 10, 12, 13).”

    From Past human expansions shaped the spatial pattern of Neanderthal ancestry (2023) · cites this paper as [12]

    In “Denisovan and Neandertal gene flow” (page not specified), the paper reports less Neandertal ancestry in Europe than in eastern Asia, supporting the direction of the comparison. It estimates that Europe’s proportion is 24% lower than eastern Asia’s (95% CI 12–36%); it does not give an 8–24% estimate for how much higher East Asia’s proportion is than Europe’s. (LLM, conf=0.86)

    Experimental — accuracy not yet measured
  • This second range expansion is essential for explaining the pattern currently observed of lower Neanderthal ancestry in western Europe than in East Asia.

    “This second range expansion is essential for explaining the pattern currently observed of lower NE ancestry in western Europe than in East Asia (5, 10, 12, 13).”

    From Past human expansions shaped the spatial pattern of Neanderthal ancestry (2023) · cites this paper as [12]

    The ‘Denisovan and Neandertal gene flow’ section estimates Neandertal ancestry in Europe to be 24% lower than in eastern Asia and South America. It offers later migration out of Africa as one possible explanation, alongside independent Neandertal gene-flow events; it does not say a second range expansion is essential. (LLM, conf=0.89)

    Experimental — accuracy not yet measured

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Cites

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2 of the 200 references couldn’t be matched to a known paper.

Research works printed but not linked: 1

  1. J. A. Coyne H. A. Orr in Speciation and its Consequences D. Otte and J. A. Endler Eds. (Wiley New York 1989) pp. 180–207.

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Authors
Meyer, M., Kircher, M., Gansauge, M.-T., Li, H., Racimo, F., Mallick, S., Schraiber, J. G., Jay, F., Prüfer, K., de Filippo, C., Sudmant, P. H., Alkan, C., Fu, Q., Do, R., Rohland, N., Tandon, A., Siebauer, M., Green, R. E., Bryc, K., Briggs, A. W., Stenzel, U., Dabney, J., Shendure, J., Kitzman, J., Hammer, M. F., Shunkov, M. V., Derevianko, A. P., Patterson, N., Andrés, A. M., Eichler, E. E., Slatkin, M., Reich, D., Kelso, J., & Pääbo, S.
Affiliations
  • Max Planck Institute for Evolutionary Anthropology (DE)
  • Max Planck Society (DE)
  • Broad Institute (US)
  • University of California, Berkeley (US)
  • Department of Evolutionary Genetics, Max Planck Institute for Evolutionary Anthropology, D-04103 Leipzig, Germany.
  • University of Washington (US)
  • Bilkent University (TR)
  • Chinese Academy of Sciences (CN)
  • University of California, Santa Cruz (US)
  • Harvard University (US)
  • University of Arizona (US)
  • Russian Academy of Sciences (RU)
  • Palaeolithic Department, Institute of Archaeology and Ethnography, Russian Academy of Sciences, Siberian Branch, 630090 Novosibirsk, Russia.
  • Howard Hughes Medical Institute (US)
Corresponding author
  • Meyer, Matthias
  • Kircher, Martin
  • Reich, David
  • Pääbo, Svante
Venue
Science
Published
2012-10-12
Volume
338
Issue
6104
Pages
222-226
ISSN
  • 0036-8075 (ISSN-L)
  • 1095-9203
OpenAlex
W2038686775
Cited by
1,967
References
200
Citations by year
2026: 97 · 2025: 104 · 2024: 113 · 2023: 138 · 2022: 115 · 2021: 179 · 2020: 161 · 2019: 146 · 2018: 158 · 2017: 146 · 2016: 166 · 2015: 145 · 2014: 164 · 2013: 118 · 2012: 14
FWCI
658.14
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
Locations
  • Science (publishedVersion)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
  • Europe PMC (PubMed Central) (acceptedVersion)
  • PubMed Central (acceptedVersion)
  • Bilkent University Institutional Repository (Bilkent University) (submittedVersion)
  • Digital Commons - University of South Florida (University of South Florida) (submittedVersion)
  • MPG.PuRe (Max Planck Society) (submittedVersion)
Funders
  • Howard Hughes Medical Institute
  • National Institute of General Medical Sciences (R01GM040282, GM100233, R01GM100233)
Topics
  • Social Sciences › Anthropology › Pleistocene-Era Hominins and Archaeology
  • Life Sciences › Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology › Genetics › Forensic and Genetic Research
  • Life Sciences › Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology › Molecular Biology › Genomics and Phylogenetic Studies
Keywords
Denisovans, archaic humans, DNA library preparation, heterozygosity, genetic diversity, Denisovan admixture, modern human populations, positive selection, human evolution
MeSH terms
Alleles, Animals, Base Sequence, Fossils, Heterozygote, Humans, Molecular Sequence Data, Genetic Variation, Gene Library, Genome, Human, Sequence Analysis, DNA, Gene Flow, Neanderthals

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