Date Time Study dives deeper into genetic differences between modern and archaic humans Researchers examined 14,000 genetic differences between modern humans and our most recent ancestors at a new level of detail. They found that differences in gene activation – not just genetic code – could underlie evolution of the brain and vocal tract. By Taylor Kubota A genome by itself is like a recipe without a chef – full of important information, but in need of interpretation. So, even though we have sequenced genomes of our nearest extinct relatives – the Neanderthals and the Denisovans – there remain many unknowns regarding how differences in our genomes actually lead to differences in physical traits.