KOMPAS.com - In March last, the world was shocked with the results of analysis of mitochondrial DNA from fossil bones and teeth found in Denisova Cave, Siberia region. Results of analysis revealed that the genetic material contained in fossil bones and teeth were different from modern human genetic material in Neanderthals and early humans.

Scientists from the Max Planck Institute for Evolutionary Anthropology (MPI EVA) in Leipzig, Germany, who was involved in the study were also suspected that the fossils of early humans was derived from a new type. However, at that time they were reminded by other scientists not to draw conclusions too quickly about the novelty of the human species.

Trying to convince, scientists from the MPI EVA also conduct further research. Using the same sample, they extract the DNA core, untaiannya analyze, and compare with the DNA of Neanderthals and modern humans. The analysis results were published in the journal Nature on Wednesday (12/22/2010).

Based on the analysis, the fossils come from Siberia, it proved to be a new species of human. The scientists named it "Denisovans", just like the name of the cave where the fossil was found. It is said, the new types of early humans have a relationship closer to Neanderthals than modern humans.

Richard Green of the University of California, Santa Cruz, who led the analysis of DNA said, "The story of human evolution has become more complicated. Rather than clear about how humans out of Africa, we are seeing new players in the story and the interaction that we do not know earlier. "

Green says, Neanderthals and Denisovans have the same ancestor. An estimated 300,000 to 400,000 years ago, a group of early humans moved out of Africa and soon terspesiasi, the group that moved to Europe to be Neanderthals, and are moving eastward into Denisovans.

While the modern human species itself moves out of Africa at 70000-80000 years ago. They are also expected to interact and conduct mating with Neanderthals and Denisovans. Activities marriage between modern humans and the two other human species are also evident in this study.

With the legalization of Denisovans as a new human species, science now recognize three kinds of people who interact with contemporaries and modern humans. They are Denisovans, Neanderthals, and Homo floresiensis or The Hobbit which is found in Flores, Indonesia, in the year 2004.

Fossils used in this study were first discovered by Russian archaeologists. Initially, no one was paying attention to these fossils. Until finally, MPI EVA led by Svante Paabo began examining it. In addition to the novelty Denisovans species, the researchers also found that Denisovans never married men in Papua New Guinea and Melanesia.