Skip to content

Scientists Discover “Ghost” DNA

Youtube 2:51 316,631 views
Today I Learned Science

Today I Learned Science

@UCG9dpvZGXwH3juUUHykvR-Q

We got Ghost DNA before GTA VI.

The part of your genome scientists assumed was uniquely, distinctly human, isn’t. It contains “ghost” DNA from a species we’ve never identified and one of those sequences sits right next to FOXP2, the gene linked to speech and language.

Researchers at UC Berkeley used a new genomic technique called TRACE to map when different DNA contributions entered the human genome. What they found was that 0.5–1% of every human genome matches nothing ever sequenced.

Study:

More Videos