Scientists have discovered evidence that modern humans inherited DNA from two previously unknown ancestor groups, adding a new chapter to the story of human evolution.
Researchers at the University of California, Berkeley identified sections of the modern human genome that came from these unidentified ancestors, showing that Homo sapiens interbred with more ancient human relatives than previously known.
The findings, published July 30 in the journal Science, suggest that modern humans exchanged genes with at least four archaic human groups, including Neanderthals, Denisovans and two unidentified lineages.
New method uncovers hidden ancestry
The breakthrough was made using a new genetic analysis method called TRACE (TRacking Archaic Contributions via ARG Estimation). Rather than relying on ancient fossil DNA, which is often scarce or damaged, TRACE analyzes complete genomes from living people.
Researchers reconstructed ancient family relationships by mapping how DNA segments have been passed down through generations, allowing them to detect genetic material inherited from extinct human populations.
Ghost ancestor left a lasting genetic legacy
The study identified one previously unknown lineage, described as a ghost ancestor, that interbred with modern humans in Africa more than 50,000 years ago. This happened before Homo sapiens made its major migration out of Africa into Europe and Asia.
Researchers estimate that DNA from this ghost lineage makes up about 0.5% to 1% of every modern human genome. The ancient population is believed to have split from the ancestors of modern humans about 800,000 years ago, around the same time Neanderthals and Denisovans diverged.
Scientists have uncovered DNA from two previously unknown ancient human ancestors hidden in the genomes of people alive today. pic.twitter.com/iCKBKUXvrs
— Tom Marvolo Riddle (@tom_riddle2025) July 31, 2026
Yulin Zhang, a graduate student at UC Berkeley and one of the study’s first authors, explained that their findings allowed them to identify and map the regions of the modern human genome that came from this ghost lineage. The results show that this ghost ancestry is in all modern humans, not only in Africans.
Super-archaic DNA reached humans through Denisovans
Researchers also found evidence of a second unknown lineage, called a super-archaic ancestor, that diverged from other human ancestors about 1.8 million years ago.
According to the study, this population later interbred with Denisovans in Eurasia. Denisovans then passed a small amount of that inherited DNA to modern humans through later interbreeding.
The researchers detected this ancestry by studying genomes from people in Oceania, where Denisovan DNA is most common. They found that the super-archaic genetic material appears within Denisovan-derived DNA, suggesting it reached modern humans through that ancient population.
“The super-archaic finding is particularly exciting because it reveals genetic contributions from a human lineage that lived over a million years ago, despite the absence of any sequenced DNA from that population,” said Arjun Biddanda, a postdoctoral researcher at Johns Hopkins University and co-first author of the study.
Findings reshape the human family tree
The findings add to growing evidence that ancient human groups repeatedly met and interbred rather than evolving in complete isolation.
Although the identities of the ghost and super-archaic ancestors remain unknown, researchers said their estimated ages overlap with Middle Pleistocene Homo populations in Africa and Homo erectus in Eurasia.
The discovery offers new insight into the complex network of ancient populations that contributed to the DNA of people living today.
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