A Finger Bone and the Denisovan Genome
A C1 Spanish reading on how ancient DNA from Denisova Cave revealed a previously unknown extinct human lineage.
Un dedo, un genoma: el hallazgo de Denisova
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About this article
What you'll learn
Archaeogenetics vocabulary, cautious interpretation, al plus infinitive, concessive subjunctive, passive se, and hypothetical conditions.
A focused account of the 2008 Denisova finger bone, the sequencing work led by Svante Pääbo, evidence of ancient interbreeding, and the limits of genetic data.
After reading
Article learning block
Phrases, words, grammar, and quick practice from this text.
Phrases for training
Add useful phrases to SRS or mark them as already known.
A simple vista
newat first glance
It describes an initial impression without detailed analysis.
Useful for contrasting appearance and evidence.
por sí solos
newon their own
It means without other evidence or help.
It helps limit conclusions.
casi al revés
newalmost the other way round
The phrase shows that the order was opposite to what was expected.
Useful for explaining contrast.
Key words
Vocabulary that carries the school-day topic.
resto óseo
resto óseo
bone remain
A preserved part of a bone.
Needed for the archaeological context.
se degradan
se degradan
degrade
They gradually lose their structure.
A key verb for describing ancient DNA.
contaminarse
contaminarse
to become contaminated
To acquire foreign material that affects an analysis.
Important in laboratory contexts.
secuencia
secuencia
sequences
It determines the order of DNA components.
A basic verb in genetic analysis.
linaje
linaje
lineage
A sequence of related generations or groups.
Useful for discussing evolutionary relationships.
yacimiento
yacimiento
archaeological site
A place where archaeological remains are preserved.
A key archaeology term.
Grammar in context
Patterns from the text worth noticing after reading.
al compararlo
Al compararlo
on comparing it
Al plus infinitive expresses time or circumstance.
A compact pattern for scientific narration.
aunque todavía se supiera
aunque todavía se supiera
although very little was yet known
Aunque with the subjunctive frames a circumstance that does not change the main conclusion.
Useful in nuanced argument.
se ha detectado
se ha detectado
has been detected
The passive se construction leaves the actor unnamed.
Typical in reports of scientific findings.
si se separaran
Si se separaran
if those sources were separated
The imperfect subjunctive after si forms a hypothetical condition.
It allows discussion of an unreal scenario.
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