Early efforts focused on mitochondrial DNA, which is more abundant in cells, but researchers have now shown that even nuclear DNA can be recovered from sediments. One group described how nuclear DNA ...

A virus that infects nearly all children early in life has, in rare cases, been present within human DNA for thousands of ...

The human genome is made up of 23 pairs of chromosomes, the biological blueprints that make humans … well, human. But it turns out that some of our DNA — about 8% — are the remnants of ancient viruses ...

Two small changes in human DNA may have played a big role in helping our ancestors walk upright, researchers say. The study, recently published in the journal Nature, found that these tweaks changed ...

Ancient humans crossing the Bering Strait into the Americas carried more than tools and determination—they also carried a genetic legacy from Denisovans, an extinct human relative. A new study reveals ...

The discovery of ancient human cousins has long stirred wonder and debate. Early Neanderthal remains offered a glimpse into our distant past, prompting questions about how they lived and whether they ...

Analysis of ancient proteins may fill in the gaps of human evolution left by the decomposition of DNA. When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission. Here’s how it ...