A new genetic study has revealed that the Ayta Magbukon people of the Philippines carry the highest known levels of DNA from the extinct human subspecies called Denisovans. According to Esquire Philippines, researchers analyzed the genomes of nearly 120 ethnic groups across the country and found that the Ayta Magbukon, an Indigenous group living mainly in the Bataan Peninsula, have more Denisovan ancestry than any other population in the world. Their DNA levels are even higher than those found in Papuan Highlanders, who were previously thought to carry the greatest proportion.

Denisovans are an extinct branch of archaic humans first identified in 2010 from remains discovered in the Denisova Cave in Siberia. According to DoveMed, they interbred with both Neanderthals and the ancestors of modern humans, leaving traces of their DNA in present day populations. What makes the Ayta Magbukon unique is that their genetic heritage preserves the strongest evidence of this ancient interbreeding.

This discovery not only highlights the resilience and uniqueness of Indigenous Filipino groups but also provides important clues about human evolution and migration across Asia. The Ayta Magbukon now stand as a key population for understanding how extinct human subspecies shaped the genetic diversity of modern humans.