Archaic human admixture

Archaic human admixture is interbreeding between anatomically modern humans and other human groups, including Neanderthals and Denisovans. It left segments of archaic DNA in the genomes of many living populations.

Introgression: The transfer of genetic material between populations through hybridization and repeated backcrossing. Archaic DNA entered modern human populations through interbreeding and subsequent generations.
Neanderthal introgression: The entry of Neanderthal genetic material into the ancestors of some modern human populations. It is the best-studied case of archaic ancestry in living humans.
Out of Africa model: The account that modern humans originated in Africa and later dispersed across the world, largely replacing earlier human populations. Dispersal beyond Africa brought Homo sapiens into contact with Eurasian archaic groups.
EPAS1: A gene involved in cellular responses to low oxygen, with a Denisovan-derived variant common among Tibetans. This is a prominent case of archaic ancestry contributing to high-altitude adaptation.
Ghost population: An ancient population inferred from genetic evidence but not yet identified in the fossil record or sampled directly. Some ancestry patterns may reflect contact with archaic groups whose identities remain unknown.
Admixture mapping: A method that links genetic ancestry differences across a mixed population to particular traits. It can test whether archaic-derived genomic regions contribute to present-day traits.
Denisovan admixture: Interbreeding between Denisovans and ancestors of some modern human populations, especially in Asia and Oceania. It produced distinctive ancestry in populations including Papuans and Aboriginal Australians.
Neanderthal genome project: An international effort that sequenced Neanderthal genomes and enabled direct comparison with living humans. Its initial genome comparisons provided strong evidence of Neanderthal ancestry in non-Africans.
Tibetan adaptation to high altitude: Inherited physiological traits that help Tibetan populations live at high elevations with low oxygen availability. A Denisovan-related EPAS1 haplotype is associated with this adaptation.
African archaic admixture: Proposed gene flow between modern human ancestors in Africa and deeply diverged, poorly sampled human populations. Its scale and sources remain debated because comparative ancient genomes are scarce.

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