Biology: Life on Earth with Physiology (11th Edition)
Biology: Life on Earth with Physiology (11th Edition)
11th Edition
ISBN: 9780133923001
Author: Gerald Audesirk, Teresa Audesirk, Bruce E. Byers
Publisher: PEARSON
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Chapter 18.6, Problem 1CSR

The unexpected discovery that humans interbred with Neanderthals was a triumph for the experts who developed the techniques for extracting, isolating, and sequencing ancient DNA. But perhaps the most stunning revelation made possible by ancient DNA was the discovery of the Denisovans, a hominin species whose existence would still be unknown if not for analysis of its ancient DNA. The fossil fragments from which the DNA was extracted were too few, too small, and too nondescript to have even been recognized as belonging to a previously unknown species. A newfound ability to identify new extinct species on the basis of DNA alone raises the intriguing possibility of future discovery of other previously unsuspected species, hommin and otherwise.

Like Neanderthals, Denisovans left a genetic trace in modern humans. One example is the Denisovan gene variant that helps Tibetans live at high altitude. Additionally, the people native to New Guinea and other Pacific islands carry a substantial number of Demsovan sequences. Almost 5% of the genome of these people is of Demsovan origin. This finding suggests that Denisovans interbred with the ancestors of Pacific Islanders, either in mainland Asia before the islands were first cotonized by people, or later, if Denisovans were somehow able to get to multiple islands.

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Chapter 18 Solutions

Biology: Life on Earth with Physiology (11th Edition)

Ch. 18.4 - Can ancient DNA reveal the secrets of dinosaur...Ch. 18.4 - describe the transitions and innovations...Ch. 18.4 - Prob. 1TCCh. 18.4 - Although it may never be possible to recover DNA...Ch. 18.4 - describe the advantages gained by the first plants...Ch. 18.4 - Does the mudskippers ability to walk on land...Ch. 18.5 - explain how extinction has affected the course of...Ch. 18.5 - Scientists have cloned a number of animal species,...Ch. 18.5 - describe the likely causes of mass extinctions in...Ch. 18.6 - We might be able to more easily distinguish...Ch. 18.6 - The unexpected discovery that humans interbred...Ch. 18.6 - describe the evolutionary history of humans and...Ch. 18.6 - Paleontologists recently discovered fossil...Ch. 18.6 - name and describe some characteristics of the...Ch. 18.6 - describe the key features of the most recent phase...Ch. 18 - Extinctions have occurred throughout the history...Ch. 18 - Because there was no oxygen in the earliest...Ch. 18 - Almost all of the oxygen gas in todays atmosphere...Ch. 18 - What is the evidence that life might have...Ch. 18 - In biological terms, what do you think was the...Ch. 18 - The molecule _________ became a candidate for the...Ch. 18 - Extinction a. generally does not occur except...Ch. 18 - How did the origin of photosynthesis affect...Ch. 18 - Complex cells that contain a nucleus and other...Ch. 18 - In the endosymbiotic origin of the mitochondrion,...Ch. 18 - Explain the endosymbiont hypothesis for the origin...Ch. 18 - The Sperm of early land plants had to reach the...Ch. 18 - Which of the following does not list evolutionary...Ch. 18 - Name two advantages of multicellularity for plants...Ch. 18 - Prob. 5FIBCh. 18 - Prob. 5MCCh. 18 - What advantages and disadvantages would...Ch. 18 - Prob. 6FIBCh. 18 - Prob. 6RQCh. 18 - Prob. 7FIBCh. 18 - Prob. 7RQ
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