A new study using genetic data is offering an intriguing new look into the history of the Denisovans, revealing them as a people of far greater diversity, and reach, than ever before. “This is a very interesting article, which presents some new data that helps to round out the picture of archaic admixture in New Guinea and nearby,” says Sharon Browning, a researcher at the University of Washington.
In the News
![Chalk drawing of human hand bone structure with singe bone fragment](/sites/default/files/styles/news_image_mobile_thumb/public/2020-03/Denisova_Phalanx_distalis.jpg?itok=TqjIjvkf)
![Chalk drawing of human hand bone structure with singe bone fragment](/sites/default/files/styles/news_image_thumb/public/2020-03/Denisova_Phalanx_distalis.jpg?itok=DB5iZulC)
![Patrick Heagerty](/sites/default/files/styles/news_image_mobile_thumb/public/2020-03/patrick-heagerty.jpg?itok=T3lygRdB)
![Patrick Heagerty](/sites/default/files/styles/news_image_thumb/public/2020-03/patrick-heagerty.jpg?itok=pHVyVXXn)
Patrick J. Heagerty, University of Washington Professor and Gilbert S. Omenn Endowed Chair in Biostatistics, has been inducted into the Johns Hopkins University (JHU) Society of Scholars. The society recognizes former Johns Hopkins students, faculty and staff who have made outstanding contributions to their fields since leaving the university. Heagerty earned his PhD at JHU.
![Drawing and tree diagram of ancient human interaction](/sites/default/files/styles/news_image_mobile_thumb/public/2020-03/ngm-1904-papua-denisovans_ai2html-tablet.jpg?itok=wLzfAV67)
![Drawing and tree diagram of ancient human interaction](/sites/default/files/styles/news_image_thumb/public/2020-03/ngm-1904-papua-denisovans_ai2html-tablet.jpg?itok=c1kbxW0p)
DNA from a large sampling of living southeast Asians suggests that the ghostly Denisovans may be not one, but three distinct kinds of human, one of which is almost as different from other Denisovans as they are from Neanderthals. Sharon Browning of the University of Washington expresses both excitement and caution about the results and what they might mean. “It’s just one little piece of the story,” she says of the new work. “But every little piece we find helps us really fill it out.”
![Ancient misty landscape with mountains and jungle](/sites/default/files/styles/news_image_mobile_thumb/public/2020-03/Our%2520mysterious%2520cousins%2520the%2520Denisovans%2520cropped.jpg?itok=dLIcNJxz)
![Ancient misty landscape with mountains and jungle](/sites/default/files/styles/news_image_thumb/public/2020-03/Our%2520mysterious%2520cousins%2520the%2520Denisovans%2520cropped.jpg?itok=C_8vSbYn)
New study adds to findings published last year by UW Biostatistics Research Professor Sharon Browning.
![Photo of Tessa Rue](/sites/default/files/styles/news_image_mobile_thumb/public/2020-03/Tessa%2520Rue.jpg?itok=jLqw1wJY)
![Photo of Tessa Rue](/sites/default/files/styles/news_image_thumb/public/2020-03/Tessa%2520Rue.jpg?itok=tHryFcQA)
Tessa Rue (MS ’06), a research scientist with UW Biostat’s Center for Biomedical Statistics, is among the co-authors of research that created a novel system to identify emergency room patients in need of a blood transfusion.
![Bruce Weir](/sites/default/files/styles/news_image_mobile_thumb/public/2020-01/bruce-weir.jpg?itok=Wb_m4YFc)
![Bruce Weir](/sites/default/files/styles/news_image_thumb/public/2020-01/bruce-weir.jpg?itok=8xR5er1X)
Bruce Weir, PhD, of the University of Washington in Seattle is the recipient of the 2019 Genetics Society of America (GSA) Elizabeth W. Jones Award for Excellence in Education, in recognition of his work training thousands of researchers in the rigorous use of statistical analysis methods for genetic and genomic data.
![Photo of Rebecca Yates Coley](/sites/default/files/styles/news_image_mobile_thumb/public/2020-03/Coley_Rebecca_Y_hires668x631.jpg?itok=71vj8Whw)
![Photo of Rebecca Yates Coley](/sites/default/files/styles/news_image_thumb/public/2020-03/Coley_Rebecca_Y_hires668x631.jpg?itok=XkHYMvml)
Biostatistics alum Rebecca Yates Coley (MS ’10, PhD ’14) is among the inaugural class of CATALyST scholars. The new program aims to train promising early-career scientists in the conduct of learning health systems research.
M. Elizabeth Halloran, UW professor of Biostatistics and Epidemiology, is one of the authors of a new-time-series analysis The study provides initial evidence of the population-level impact of rotavirus vaccines in children <2 years of age in Matlab, Bangladesh.