Ancient boy’s DNA pushes back date of earliest humans
Homo sapiens may have emerged as a genetically distinct species as early as 350,000 years ago
![African San people](https://i0.wp.com/www.sciencenews.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/09/092817_BB_human-origins_main_FREE.jpg?fit=860%2C460&ssl=1)
DEEP PAST A new comparison of ancient and modern human DNA concludes that Homo sapiens emerged earlier than typically thought, perhaps around 350,000 years ago. African San people, such as these, belong to a genetic line that originated roughly 260,000 years ago, researchers estimate.
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