Oldest Human DNA is found in Spain

[Manuell Alvarez]

Hola , It gives me great pleasure to post this information.

According to an announcement on the internet, the oldest human DNA was found in the Spanish Cave, Sima de Los Huesos. ( not sure where this cave is located). They found bones from the foot area.

The DNA found was perfectly preserved due to the constant temperatures of the cave, and has a Genome sequence similar to that of the Denisovan human species found in Siberia.

This DNA is dated 300,000 years older than any other found possibly confirming that the Asturians and Spanish peoples are among the oldest humans found on earth.

Manny A.

[Art]

Thanks, Manny. Wow, 400,000 years ago IS really old! Here's an article about it.

[Manuell Alvarez]

Art,

It is an amazing discovery! Thanks for adding the article. Just when mankind believes that we know how old we are or who we are related to, something like this comes along to change every thing that we once knew.

Manny

[Bob]

In order to say that the very ancient human-like DNA found in Asturias shows that Asturians are a very old human group, we would have to demonstrate descent (similar DNA sequences to ) modern Asturians. I'm a retired geneticist and evolutionary biologist. Still, the idea of 400,000 year old DNA from an Asturian cave is very cool.

By the way, the cave in question, with Homo heigelbergensis remains, is near Burgos, not in modern day Asturias. The geographic boundaries of Asturias have changed during recorded history

[Manuell Alvarez]

Bob,

It is possible to determine if our DNA matches that which is 400,000 years old? I am excited that there has been human occupation of Northern Spain for that long of time.

This discovery will open the door for debates about the history and origins of man for many years to come.

There is much about this occupation that has not surfaced, like what have they found in the middens and debitage that will shed light on their relationships with other humans.

I would like to know whether or not modern Asturians are related to this DNA before I take my exit.

Manny

[Art]

It's still in question when "modern humans" left Africa, but some believe it was 130,000 years ago, which would suggest that these hominins are unlikely to be our direct ancestors. Of course, there may be interbreeding that complicates that picture.

As Manny says, it's amazing and exciting to think that hominins have been on the northern Iberian peninsula for so long. It was probably even more beautiful then. I wonder if it was a warm period or cold period?

[Bob]

It is important to keep in mind that hominin does not mean human, either in the sense of modern humans (essentially Cro-Magnons) or the related Neanderthal people. There are several kinds of DNA that can be used to trace ancestry. All of them accumulated random mutational changes over time and, to the extent that they are essentially selectively neutral, can be used to estimate time since the existence of a common ancestor. Nuclear DNA, what most people usually think of as genes, is obtained 50% from each parent. Y chromosome DNA is inherited only from paternal ancestors. Mitochondrial DNA has only a maternal origin in humans. Estimates of time from a common ancestor do not necessarily coincide for the various types of DNA.

[Manuell Alvarez]

The article that Art posted refers to the DNA as human so I am confused as to their findings. Was it Hominid or Human?

Manny

[Bob]

Unfortunately, the meaning of the terms in question have changed over time, and are defined somewhat differently by different groups of researchers. Here a link to a short explanation.
http://australianmuseum.net.au/Hominid- ... difference

[oranien]

Hola a todos,

no sé si Elvis, Miguelón y sus amigos serían nustros antepasado directos o unos parientes lejanos de una rama colateral, pero por si a alguien le interesa os envio un enlace a la página web del Museo de la Evolución Humana, en la Ibeas de Juarros, provincia de Burgos

http://www.museoevolucionhumana.com/~museoevo/en

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trans. Art

I do not know if Elvis, Miquelon and his friends would be your direct ancestors or distant relatives of a parallel branch, but in case someone is interested, I’m sending a link to the website of the Museum of Human Evolution in Ibeas of Juarros, in the province of Burgos.

[Art]

In case anyone is wondering, Elvis and Miquelon are the names that have been given to two individuals whose bones are in the museum.

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Por si acaso alguien se lo pregunta, Elvis y Miquelón son los nombres que se han dado a dos individuos cuyos huesos se encuentran en el museo.

[Manuell Alvarez]

The bones were found in the Sima de Los Huesos Cave and are perfectly preserved. I appreciate learning about this important museum of human evolution and ancient Spanish history.

The 400,000 year old DNA collected at Sima de Los Huesos will be an important edition to the collection. The museum is one of the must see things while traveling or visiting in northern Spain.

Who knows, one might just be visiting with an ancestor that just happens to be 400,000 years old. I am eager and excited to find out if I am family connected.

Manny