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

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

An ancient, humanlike population still undiscovered in fossils left a genetic legacy in present-day West Africans, a new study suggests.