Pleistocene-Era Hominins and Archaeology

Convergent mutations and single nucleotide variants in mitochondrial genomes of modern humans and Neanderthals

The paper identifies 66 Neanderthal single nucleotide variants in modern human mitochondrial genomes, suggesting convergent evolution rather than recombination.

The origin of the Gravettians: genomic evidence from a 36,000-year-old Eastern European

The paper analyzes genomic data from a 36,000-year-old Eastern European individual to trace the origin and spread of the Gravettian culture, finding genetic links to later populations.

Functional archaic DNA regulates molecular variation and is associated with disease risk across global populations

This study identifies functional archaic DNA from Neanderthals and Denisovans that regulates gene expression and disease risk in European and East Asian populations.

A late Neanderthal reveals genetic isolation in their populations before extinction

The study analyzes the genome of a late Neanderthal individual from France, revealing genetic isolation in his population despite geographic proximity to other late Neanderthals.

Genetic dietary adaptation in Neandertal, Denisovan and Sapiens revealed by gene copy number variation

The paper identifies 50 genes with copy number variation in Neandertal, Denisovan, and Early Sapiens genomes, suggesting dietary adaptations related to lipid and carbohydrate metabolism.

On the Apportionment of Archaic Human Diversity

This study examines the distribution of archaic genetic variation in Eurasian populations, finding distinct patterns of archaic ancestry and suggesting complex interactions between modern humans and archaic populations.

ABO genetic variation in Neanderthals and Denisovans

The paper analyzes ABO genetic variation in Neanderthals and Denisovans, finding Neanderthal-derived alleles in modern humans and suggesting balancing selection.

Denisovan introgression has shaped the immune system of present-day Papuans

The paper identifies Denisovan introgression in Papuan genomes that influences immune-related processes and regulatory elements, with experimental validation of functional impacts.

A high-coverage Neandertal genome from Chagyrskaya Cave

The paper reports a high-coverage Neandertal genome from Chagyrskaya Cave, revealing genetic features unique to Neandertals and population structure insights.

Recovering signals of ghost archaic introgression in African populations

The paper identifies archaic ancestry in African populations, showing they inherited 2-19% of their genetic ancestry from an archaic population diverging before Neanderthals and modern humans.

Late Upper Palaeolithic hunter-gatherers in the Central Mediterranean: new archaeological and genetic data from the Late Epigravettian burial Oriente C (Favignana, Sicily)

The paper presents new ancient DNA data from a Late Epigravettian burial in Sicily, confirming genetic homogeneity among Central Mediterranean hunter-gatherers.

Analyses of Neanderthal introgression suggest that Levantine and southern Arabian populations have a shared population history

The paper compares Neanderthal introgression in Levantine and southern Arabian populations to infer shared population history and gene flow patterns.

Immune gene diversity in archaic and present-day humans

The paper compares gene diversity in Neandertals, Denisovans, and present-day humans, finding lower diversity in archaic humans, especially in immune-related genes, but no significant decrease over time in Neandertals.

Intragenus variation in a Chemokine Receptor Gene (CCR5) in Homo

The paper examines intragenus variation in the CCR5 gene across Homo species, finding no significant differences in polymorphism frequency or distribution, suggesting regulatory flexibility evolved within the genus.

In Rift Valley settings with a feedback loop, assortative mating for versatility predicts hominin brain enlargement in some detail

The paper models how assortative mating in Rift Valley settings with feedback loops influenced hominin brain enlargement through environmental and social factors.

Testing an alternative explanation for relatively greater base-sharing between Neanderthals and non-African humans

The paper tests whether Neanderthal genetic similarity in non-Africans is due to interbreeding or mutation rate changes during the out-of-Africa bottleneck, finding mutation slowdown better explains the data.