The phrase "ancient hominins" refers to early human-like creatures who lived a long time ago. These hominins are not exactly like modern humans, but they are our distant relatives. Full definition
The «Cradle of Humankind» — a Unesco World Heritage Site located approximately 30 miles north of Johannesburg, South Africa — is famous for its rich and diverse deposits of ancient hominin fossils. (ibtimes.com)
If they eventually find Gc - Cs in ancient hominin fossils as well, the researchers say it could open up all kinds of interesting possibilities. (turkanabasin.org)
Previous studies have suggested that two genes, EPAS1 (inherited from ancient hominins known as Denisovans) and ELGN1, play roles in reducing hemoglobin and boosting oxygen use. (sciencemag.org)