According to the organisation, the prize was given to Pbo for his discoveries concerning the genomes of extinct hominins and human evolution.

The prize was announced on Monday by the assembly at the institute. Pbo's research into ancient genes and the establishment of a new scientific discipline, paleogenomics, has been seminal in the quest to discover more about humankind's origins.

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The Australian Museum states that Pbo discovered Denisova, an unknown hominin, the group consisting of modern humans, extinct humans and all our immediate ancestors.

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The scientists who discovered how our bodies feel hugs and heat won the prize last year.

Pbo is the first person to win the prize. This week and next, the awards for physics, chemistry, literature, economic sciences and the always anticipated peace prize will be given out.

You can watch the announcements on the internet.