Scientists have used ancient genes to learn more details about contact between Neanderthals and humans tens of thousands of years ago. 

科学家利用古代基因来了解数万年前尼安德特人与人类接触的更多细节。

Results of two recent studies estimate the two groups likely met and began mating about 45,000 years ago. 

最近两项研究的结果估计，这两个群体很可能在大约 45,000 年前相遇并开始交配。 

Modern humans – also known as Homo sapiens – began in Africa hundreds of thousands of years ago and later started spreading to Europe, Asia and other places. Scientists believe that at some point, they met and mated with Neanderthals. The mixing of these groups had a major influence on humans’ genetic code. 

现代人类（也称为智人）数十万年前起源于非洲，后来开始传播到欧洲、亚洲和其他地方。科学家认为，在某个时候，他们与尼安德特人相遇并交配。这些群体的混合对人类的遗传密码产生了重大影响。 

However, scientists do not know exactly when or how the two groups interacted. But the two new studies provide some additional details about the timing of this contact. 

然而，科学家们并不确切知道这两个群体何时或如何相互作用。但这两项新研究提供了有关这次接触时间的一些额外细节。 

One group of scientists examined genetic material from three female and three male Homo sapien individuals who lived around 45,000 years ago. Reuters news agency reported that research involved the oldest genes from Homo sapiens ever examined, or sequenced. 

一组科学家检查了生活在 45,000 年前的三名女性和三名男性智人的遗传物质。路透社报道称，这项研究涉及迄今为止检查或测序过的智人最古老的基因。 

Some of the genes came from bones found in a cave in the central German village of Ranis. Other material came from a woman believed to have lived at around the same time in a cave in a mountainous area of what is now the Czech Republic. 

一些基因来自在德国中部拉尼斯村庄的一个洞穴中发现的骨头。其他材料来自一位妇女，据信她大约在同一时期住在现在捷克共和国山区的一个洞穴里。

Researchers estimated the period of mixing between Neanderthals and humans at about 49,000 to 45,000 years ago. The findings were recently published in a study in Nature. 

研究人员估计尼安德特人和人类的混合时期约为 49,000 至 45,000 年前。该研究结果最近发表在《自然》杂志上的一项研究中。 

A second group of researchers examined genetic material from 300 present-day and ancient Homo sapiens. This included 59 individuals who lived between 2,000 and 45,000 years ago. That study, published in the journal Science, estimated the period of mixing at about 50,500 to 43,500 years ago. 

第二组研究人员检查了 300 名现代和古代智人的遗传物质。其中包括生活在 2,000 至 45,000 年前的 59 个人。这项发表在《科学》杂志上的研究估计，混合时期约为 50,500 至 43,500 年前。