The oldest known human DNA discovered to date belongs to a 400,000-year-old fossil of a human ancestor known as the “Ust’-Ishim Man” discovered in Siberia. This individual represents an extinct species of early humans that lived between 200,000 and 400,000 years ago and the ancient DNA extracted from his bones provides the oldest continuous genetic line of any human discovered to date.
However, the oldest known DNA from any organism on Earth belonged to a microbial species known as the “Yersinia pestis bacterium” which was discovered in a 100,000-year-old sediment core taken from the bottom of a lake in North Siberia.
This bacterium was likely involved in causing a plague pandemic known as the Justinian plague which killed roughly 50 million people in the 6th century CE. Therefore, the oldest DNA discovered so far is from a microbial species and does not belong to any “race” of humans.
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Which people have the oldest DNA in the world?
The oldest DNA in the world is believed to belong to a 430,000-year-old fossilised human specimen, which was recently discovered in a Spanish cave. The fossil, nicknamed ‘Morce’, was discovered in 2016, and researchers were able to extract mitochondrial DNA from the sample, which can spend much longer in the fossilisation process than nuclear DNA.
The sample was used to study the links between early humans found in Western Eurasia (as part of the Heidelberg research project). Additionally, researchers have also managed to extract and analyse nuclear DNA from an extinct species of human which is thought to be more than 700,000 years old!
Though some researchers have argued that the samples extracted from Morce couldn’t be considered “true” DNA because of the degree to which it has degraded, the discovery of the fossil has certainly advanced the study of human evolution, particularly in terms of furthering our understanding of the links between different forms of early humans and their migratory patterns.
What is the oldest family lineage?
The oldest family lineage is difficult to pinpoint as records may not have been kept for many ancient families, however some of the oldest documented lineages can be found in European royalty. For example, the British Royal Family is descended from Norman kings, who were themselves descended from the Viking explorer Rollo, who was born around 860AD.
In France, the House of Bourbon can trace its ancestry back to Charlemagne, the influential King of the Franks who reigned in the late 8th to early 9th centuries. In Germany, the House of Hohenzollern, who had significant influence in the 18th century, can trace its genealogy back to the 11th century.
In addition, the ancient Chinese Han Dynasty, the originators of Chinese culture and the longest imperial dynasty in Chinese history, can be traced back to around 206 BC.
Can you have royal blood?
Yes, it is possible to have royal blood, although it is much rarer today than it has been in centuries past. Historically, royal families were able to maintain their royal lineage through a strict system of succession, which is how they were able to ensure that royal blood stayed confined within their royal families.
Through strategic marrying and intermingling of bloodlines, royal families have been able to keep their royalbloodlines intact. However, with the fall of many royal families, the chances of having royal blood are much lower today.
Nevertheless, with the rise of international genealogy and DNA testing, it is possible to trace one’s lineage and discover whether or not there is any trace of royal blood. With that said, however, it is not possible to accurately determine one’s specific royal lineage, meaning it is impossible to know exactly from which family one’s royal blood may have originated from.
Who has the oldest bloodline in America?
It is impossible to definitively say who has the oldest bloodline in America, due to the history of immigration and displacement of many Indigenous tribes. However, it is estimated that the Tsimshian people of British Columbia, Canada, who are comprised of four main clans—the Gitxsan, Nisga’a, Haida, and Coast Tsimshian—have the longest continuous Bloodline on the American continent, having been in the region for over 15,000 years.
The Tsimshian are among the oldest and largest coastal First Nations of North America, and include numerous other related groups including the Nass, Kitkatla, and Metlakatla who have intermixed with the original Tsimshian over centuries.
In the contiguous United States, it is likely that the Tlingit, a distinct group of Indigenous people located in what is now known as Alaska, have the oldest bloodline. The Tlingit have been living in the southeastern Alaska region for over 10,000 years, with archaeological evidence of habitation dating to over 13,000 years ago.
What is the oldest human DNA ever recovered?
The oldest human DNA ever recovered so far is a fragment of a single finger bone. The bone, which is estimated to be about 120,000 years old, was found in Denisova Cave in Siberia. The bone belonged to a female who is now referred to as the “Denisovan,” a species of early humans that lived in Eurasia as recently as 40,000 years ago.
The bone was discovered in 2010 and was the first Homo sapiens-like fossil found outside of Africa and the first evidence of an interbreeding between modern humans, Neanderthals, and Denisovans. Analysis of the finger bone revealed that the individual belonged to a previously unknown hominin species.
Subsequent analysis revealed the presence of mitochondrial DNA, which can be inherited exclusively from the mother, in the individual – providing valuable information about the Denisovans’ ancestry. The finding has given researchers an unprecedented glimpse into the genetic diversity of early humans, as well as an insight into how they interacted and interbred with their ancient relatives.
What person has the most Neanderthal DNA?
Currently, the person with the most Neanderthal DNA is a human whose remains were found in Mezmaiskaya Cave, located in the North Caucasus Mountains in Russia. The remains, which were dated to 80,000 years ago, revealed that the individual had between 2.5 and 2.8 percent Neanderthal DNA.
Scientists believe that this is the highest amount of Neanderthal DNA found in a modern human. However, experts note that it’s difficult to completely confirm that this is the highest amount of Neanderthal DNA because of the difficulties in accurately analyzing ancient DNA samples.
The amount of Neanderthal DNA found in modern humans can vary considerably and is dependent on where individuals live. For example, people of East Asian descent tend to have higher amounts of Neanderthal DNA than those of European descent.
This could be due to the higher levels of interbreeding between early humans and Neanderthals in East Asia, particularly among Denisovans, or modern humans of East Asian descent who interbred with an ancient hominin species known as Denisovans.
In addition to the individual from Mezmaiskaya Cave, there have been a number of other ancient human remains that have revealed considerable levels of Neanderthal DNA. For example, the Oase 1 remains, which were discovered in the Peștera cu Oase in Romania in 2002, revealed over 2.3 percent Neanderthal DNA.
Similarly, the remains of two individuals (and possibly a third) found at the Ust’-Ishim archaeological site in Siberia, have also revealed around 2 percent Neanderthal DNA.
Overall, the exact amount of Neanderthal DNA in modern humans can vary significantly, but the individual from Mezmaiskaya Cave currently holds the record for the highest level of Neanderthal DNA found in an ancient human.
What has the furthest DNA from humans?
The organism with the farthest DNA from humans is the fruit fly (Drosophila melanogaster). This small insect belongs to the Class Insecta and is an important model organism used in research due to its short life cycle, ease of maintenance, and genetic amenability.
Compared to humans, the fruit fly’s genome is much smaller and simpler. It has only 13,600 protein-coding genes and an estimated total of 12,000 to 14,000 genes in its genome, while humans have approximately 20,000 to 25,000 genes.
Furthermore, the fruit fly’s genome consists of only 180 megabase pairs, compared to the human genome which is three thousand-fold greater at three billion base pairs. Moreover, the fruit fly’s DNA mutations occur more quickly due to its incredibly high rate of metabolism, providing opportunities for adaptations to different environments.
This can also be seen when comparing their respective gene expression patterns. Studies have shown that the fruit fly’s gene expression profile is significantly different from that of humans. Thus, it can be concluded that the fruit fly has the farthest DNA from humans.
What ethnicity was the first human?
The first human is believed to have originated in Africa, and the earliest fossil evidence of Homo sapiens, which is the species to which modern humans belong, dates back to approximately 200,000 – 300,000 years ago.
As far as ethnicity, it can be difficult to assign an exact racial or ethnic label to the very first human due to the fact that migration and interbreeding over the millennia has led to a deep and complex intermingling of human ethnicities and cultures.
Archaeological evidence suggests that the Middle East, especially present-day Ethiopia, was likely the first “cradle” of human development. Several ancient migrations then occurred out of Africa and into parts of Europe and Asia, intermingling and interbreeding with other populations they encountered.
It is difficult to pinpoint exactly which population can truly be considered the “first human” as all living humans are part of the same species, and our diversity is the result of migration and interbreeding.
What are the oldest ethnic groups?
The oldest known ethnic groups are those existing today in aboriginal populations, mainly in Australia, New Zealand and North America. The first people began to move out of Africa some 70,000 years ago and over this long period of time, distinct cultures and ethnic identities evolved.
In Africa, archaeologists have identified certain groups from the 11th-century migrations through Kenya, Uganda and Tanzania. Other populations were documented in the Nile Valley beginning in the fourth millennium before Christ.
In Asia, the settlement of the ancient Fertile Crescent in modern Iraq and Syria led to the development of various ethnic groups over many centuries.
In the Americas, the migration of the first humans over the Bering land bridge during the Pleistocene era led to the development of various indigenous populations, many of whom still retain their unique culture and languages today.
In Europe, since time immemorial many distinct ethnic groups have existed, although the most ancient and well-defined are those of the Basques and the Irish and Welsh.
Finally, in Australia and New Zealand, the original Aboriginal people have a rich and varied heritage that dates back tens of thousands of years.
Thus, it can be seen that the world is filled with a huge variety of ethnic groups, many of which can be traced back to some of the oldest populations of human beings.
Are the first humans African?
The origin of humans can be traced back to Africa. Although the exact location is still debated, fossil evidence suggests that the first Homo species evolved in Africa around two million years ago. This means that early humans would have been African, however with the growth and development of humanity, humans spread beyond Africa and eventually to every corner of the world.
Furthermore, recent studies of human DNA have revealed that all humans are essentially African in origin and all countries exist on a single genetic backbone, showing how closely related we all are. Therefore, it can be said that the first humans were likely of African descent.
Who has the oldest ancestry?
It is impossible to definitively answer this question, as it would require tracing ancestry back to the very earliest ancestors. Depending on how you define ancestry, it is likely impossible to trace a single lineage back that far.
However, there is evidence to suggest that the San people of Southern Africa have the longest continuous ancestry – they are thought to have been genetic contemporaries of the earliest Homo sapiens who are estimated to have evolved over 175,000 years ago.
They have been found to have a particularly ancient form of mitochondrial DNA, which has been linked to all other modern humans, and can be traced back to a single woman from the San tribe who lived nearly 100,000 years ago.
Consequently, the San people are thought to have the oldest recorded ancestry.
How old is the African DNA?
The African DNA is estimated to be around 200,000-300,000 years old, making it the oldest known human genetic material. The oldest human remains found in Africa that have been directly dated are in Ethiopia and have been dated to 195,000-200,000 years ago.
Though the genetic material of humans has changed over time, the African continental gene pool is said to be the oldest, dated to around 200,000-300,000 years ago. Based on the fossil evidence and studies of ancient DNA from Africa and the genomes of living African people, it is thought that this common ancestor of all people migrated out of Africa about 60,000-70,000 years ago.
