How many homo species were in existance when modern humans first migrated out of Africa? Did they interbreed?

Question

Or did they replace them?

Answer 1

It may be that we moved out of Africa.  There is no way of knowing for sure. DNA studies suggesting we evolved from a woman or man in Africa assumes that humans cannot migrate.  It is a racist theory in my opinion (not suggesting you are) because it seeks to show that African races are more primitive and that other races evolved from them whether they admit it or not.  Darwin first logically predicted it since chimps and gorillas, our nearest known relatives, were there.  It turns out that members of the Homo genus moved out of Africa 2 million years ago and probably have been moving back and forth since then.  Homo georgicus is small erectus like hominid found in Georgia nearly 2 million years ago possilbly related to Homo Habilis.  Homo ergaster and erectus are closely related, and erectus apparently moved out of Africa nearly 2 million years ago.  It evovled further in Asia.  It lived to maybe 30,000 years ago and it is doubtful it interbred with humans because Neanderthals apparently did not and they are more closely related to humans.  Neanderthals also lived to at least 30,000 years ago.  Since modern humans go back 200,000 years, they were alive when Homo erectus, Homo Neanderthalensis, Homo floresiensis (the hobbit of Indonesia) and probably some other that are not yet proven.  There are some that believe Neanderthal interbred with modern humans but the DNA evidence doesn't support it.

Answer 2

I believe that Homo neanderthalensis, Homo floresiensis,  and Homo erectus all existed when modern humans migrated out of Africa. Also, the debate whether they interbred has been waged for quite sometime. It's still open, but recent mitochondrial DNA from neanderthals and modern humans has shown they  diverged from one another some 500,000 years ago, which shows they most likely did not interbreed.

Answer 3

I would bet my bottom dollar on the fact that human species interbred because they still do today. Syphilis was first contracted when humans had s*x with sheep. Other  deviant people try s*x with other animals as well so therefore, activity with chimps and other species of humans is a small step away.  There has been skeletal evidence uncovered in Spain that strongly points to a human crossbred with a Neanderthal, a close cousin species according to dna evidence.

Answer 4

Good Question, unfortunately, there is no way to know the answer.  There is debate over exactly when the migration occured.  According to the "Eve" or "Out of Africa" hypothesis, All human females are felated to a single female that lived about 200,000 years ago.  This would provide a clue as to when the migration may have occured.  

This hypothesis is based on an analysis of a particular type of DNA (mDNA) that can show relationships in woman.  I have recently read of another type of DNA that is good for looking at how men are related that suggests all men are related to a single individual from Africa about 60,000 years ago.  Lots of intersting anthropological questions can be postulated regarding this difference (social interactions, men vs female mating patterns etc.)

As for the interbreeding question - that is another area of heavy debate.  Scientists on both sides of the argument claim to have DNA evidence regarding the interaction of modern Homo sapiens and Neandertals (some say they did, others they did not) so that question is likely to stay active for a long time.  Similarily with regard to Hs interbreeding with H. erectus.  There are some regional variations in skeletal morphology that are clearly present in H.e. and seem to be present in modern H.s. as well.  However, other evidence suggests that there was no interbreeding.  

These are both great questions and ones that are worthy of a good paper if you are looking for a topic.  However, I would not expect to find a good ANSWER - any time soon.

DM

Answer 5

They did in fact interbreed. Europeans with Neanderthal. East Asians with another older species, and so on.