Some West Africans may have genes from an ancient ‘ghost’ hominid
The passed-down DNA helps with functions including tumor suppression and hormone regulation
![Mende people in Sierra Leone](https://i0.wp.com/www.sciencenews.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/02/021120_bb_ghostdna_feat.jpg?fit=1028%2C579&ssl=1)
Modern West Africans, such as these Mende people in Sierra Leone, carry a small but helpful genetic inheritance from a previously unknown, now-extinct hominid population, a new study suggests.
Georg Berg/Alamy Stock Photo