Scientists have found evidence that modern humans retain DNA from an ancient "ghost lineage". This discovery could help solve the mystery of human ancestors that are absent from the fossil record but present in the genes of people alive today.

Research has shown that Homo sapiens interbred with extinct human relatives, including Neanderthals and Denisovans. However, some lineages have been difficult to identify due to a lack of DNA evidence.

Further details about this discovery are available, including information about previous studies that detected traces of these ghost lineages but were unable to determine more about them.