Extinct yak relative identified through DNA from Denisova cave

New Scientist reports that genetic analysis of tiny bone fragments from Siberia’s Denisova cave and other sites identified a previously unknown extinct yak relative, dubbed “yak X.” It seems to have diverged from wild yaks around 400,000 years ago and gone extinct around 30,000 years ago. Researchers say ancient humans may have hunted it, though they have no direct evidence of that.