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Is the molecular identification of the Harbin cranium sound?

Asked 26 Oct 2026 by ·Part of Which fossils are Denisovans, and so what did Denisovans look like?·3 answers·0·0 following
Answered: Both the proteome and the calculus mtDNA are endogenous and Denisovan.Passed its tests and review.

Where it stands

Three answers have been proposed. Both the proteome and the calculus mtDNA are endogenous and Denisovan. leads, with evidence 2 for: supported by its tests. Two are still possible.

Why it matters

The identification rests on two tests with different weaknesses: proteins from the petrous bone, and DNA from dental calculus, which can hold DNA from other sources⁠[1]⁠[2]. The case is strong only if both hold.

Answers 3

Evidence: 2 for
Most likely
None of these.
Failed a test; not refuted outright
Evidence: none yet
Disputed
Evidence: 1 for
Disputed

History

  1. Fu et al. puts forward: both the proteome and the calculus mtDNA are endogenous and Denisovan.
  2. Fu et al.: the proteome is the best preserved from any hominin, from the bone itself.For: Both the proteome and the calculus mtDNA are endogenous and Denisovan.
  3. Fu et al.: the two independent tests point to the same lineage.For: Both the proteome and the calculus mtDNA are endogenous and Denisovan.
  4. Fu et al.: no DNA survived in the tooth or petrous bone, so the mtDNA comes only from calculus.For: The calculus mtDNA comes from another source deposited on the tooth, and the protein variants are too few to…
  5. Asked on this site
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