Question

The people represented by the Denisova fossils likely:

a. interbred with Homo erectus.
b. share a common ancestor with Neandertals.
c. were isolated to the point of extinction.
d. looked very much like Neandertals.

Answer 1

The Denisova fossils are likely related to a population of archaic humans known as Denisovans, who b. shared common ancestors with Neandertals and interbred with them as well as early modern humans.

Step-by-step explanation:

The Denisova fossils likely represent a group of archaic humans known as Denisovans who not only interbred with modern humans and Neanderthals but also shared a common ancestor with Neandertals. The DNA evidence from the fossils suggests a complex interbreeding scenario where Denisovans, Neanderthals, and early modern humans exchanged genetic material over multiple time periods. Moreover, Denisovans interbred with Homo sapiens and contributed to the genetic makeup of certain modern populations, as evidenced by the presence of Denisovan DNA in groups such as Tibetans, Melanesians, and Indigenous Australians.