News Humans

Only a tiny fraction of our DNA is uniquely human

The result underscores how big of a hand interbreeding among ancient hominids had in shaping us

a crowd of people

Scientists may have tracked down the small percentage of DNA that might give modern humans the qualities unique to the species.

Sean Gallup/Getty Images

By Tina Hesman Saey

- More than 2 years ago

Read another version of this article at Science News Explores

The genetic tweaks that make humans uniquely human may come in small parcels interspersed with DNA inherited from extinct ancestors and cousins.