The Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine was awarded to Sweden-born geneticist Svante Pääbo，recognizing him for discoveries related to the genomes （基因组） of extinct human groups that cast light on the genetic characteristics unique to present-day humans.The committee said Dr.Pääbo overcame challenges in recovering and analyzing ancient DNA to sequence （测序） the genome of the Neanderthal，an extinct relative of present-day humans.He also discovered a previously unknown human relative，called the Denisova.
Before Dr.Pääbo's research，understanding of Neanderthals came from analysis of the features of ancient bone remains and from studies of tools and other archaeological artifacts （史前古器物）.Dr.Pääbo's work made it possible to precisely analyze the genetic characteristics of Neanderthals and helped illustrate how different types of humans mixed on the planet during periods of coexistence.Dr.Pääbo's discoveries have laid the groundwork for research on how ancient gene sequences from extinct relatives influence the function of present-day humans.One example is a gene common among present-day Tibetans that makes those people better adapted to life at high altitude.It can be traced to the Denisovan genome.
Early in his career，Dr.Pääbo became focused on using advanced modern genetic techniques to study the DNA of Neanderthals.But DNA degrades over time meaning that，for ancient specimens （样本），only small amounts are left.When he worked in the University of Munich，he successfully sequenced DNA from a 40，000-year-old piece of bone.The DNA in question was so-called mitochondrial （线粒体的） DNA，a form of genetic material that is shorter，but more plentiful，than the extensive DNA found in the center of a cell.He went on to help establish the Max Planck Institute in Germany，where his research group continued to improve those methods with the aim of sequencing ever larger parts of an ancient genome.Those efforts ended in 2010.
Around the same time，the Max Planck group discovered that a 40，000-year-old finger bone found in the Denisova cave in the southern part of Siberia was unique when compared with all known sequences from Neanderthals and present-day humans.It marked the first time that a new type of human had been identified using only ancient DNA.
