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This book chronicles the emergence and progress of the academic discipline of paleogenomics, which reached a pinnacle with Svante Pääbo's groundbreaking work. Pääbo's pioneering efforts in deciphering the genomes of extinct Neanderthals and Denisovans earned him the prestigious 2022 Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine. Remarkably, this manuscript was finalized just ten days prior to the official announcement of Pääbo's achievement by the Karolinska Institute.
 
Delving deep into the significance of analyzing Neanderthal and Denisovan genomes, the book elucidates how these ancient genetic codes offer invaluable insights into the essence of Homo sapiens – modern humans. Beyond mere academic curiosity, these insights hold the promise of catalyzing paradigm shifts across diverse domains, potentially revitalizing a society at a standstill.
 
About 40,000 years ago, Earth was inhabited by at least three distinct Homo species: Neanderthals across the western Eurasian expanse, Denisovans spanning from the eastern Eurasia to Papua New Guinea, and Homo sapiens, originated in Africa and venturing into Eurasia some 60,000 years ago. Despite interbreeding and leaving genetic imprints, Neanderthals and Denisovans vanished from the Earth's stage approximately 30,000 years ago, leaving behind a legacy embedded within the genomes of modern humans – comprising 1 to 4% of our genetic makeup.
 
Neanderthals, with their slightly larger brain volume, employed tools distinct form those of anatomically modern humans. Meanwhile, the physical characteristics of Denisovans remain shrouded in mystery, known solely through DNA remnants extracted from a fingertip bone. While the Neanderthals and Denisovans faced extinctinction, Homo sapiens thrived, proliferating to approximately 7 billion individuals who now dominantly inhabit and influence the planet. In this context, Homo sapiens emerge as arguably the most successful lineage among the various branches diverging from a common ancestor with chimpanzees around 7 million years ago.
 
Through the lens of paleogenomics, these narratives unfold, posing intriguing questions about the contrasting fates of our ancient relatives and ourselves. What set us apart? What ensured our flourishing while they faced demise? Answering these inquiries holds profound implications, offering invaluable insights that may guide strategies to safeguard our species from a similar fate.
 

(Written by OOTA Hiroki, Professor, Graduate School of Science / 2024)