Teeth from 400,000 years ago: Homo erectus may have interbred with Denisovans

Scientists extracted proteins from Homo erectus teeth found in China dating to 400,000 years ago. Analysis suggests this species, previously thought to be an evolutionary dead end, may have interbred with Denisovans. Traces of this genetic kinship may be present in modern populations of the Philippines, Papua New Guinea, and Southeast Asia.