The word ‘Denisovan’ is sometimes mentioned in media in reference to

The word ‘Denisovan’ is sometimes mentioned in media in reference to

fossils of a kind of dinosaurs
an early human species
a cave system found in North-East India
a geological period in the history of Indian subcontinent
This question was previously asked in
UPSC IAS – 2019
The correct answer is B) an early human species.
Denisovans are an extinct species or subspecies of archaic humans. Their existence was first suggested in 2010 based on mitochondrial and nuclear DNA analysis of a fossil found in Denisova Cave in Siberia. Genetic studies have shown that Denisovans interbred with modern humans and Neanderthals.
The discovery of Denisovans, Neanderthals, and their interbreeding with Homo sapiens has significantly advanced our understanding of recent human evolution and migration patterns. Traces of Denisovan DNA are found in the genomes of present-day populations, particularly in parts of Southeast Asia and Oceania.