Human evolution tracked by DNA only covered the last 400,000 years until very recently, a discovery marked a breakthrough in the molecular studies. Scientists from the University of Cambridge and the University of Copenhagen have identified a 1.7 million-year-old rhino tooth, from which, they have extracted the oldest-yet genetic material known to mankind! According to ZME Science, an almost complete set of proteins, a proteome has been identified in the dental enamel of the now-extinct rhino that must have had galloped on Earth 700,000 years ago! These dental samples from the pre-historic fossil were discovered in the town of Dmanisi, Georgia.
In a study published in the journal Nature, the research team used ancient protein sequencing, based on an innovative technology called mass spectrometry, in order to retrieve the DNA from the tooth. The genetic data was securely lodged inside the tooth enamel, the hardest material present in mammals, that contains a long-lasting set of proteins. Scientists believe that these findings can shed brand-new light on ancient animal and human biology by enabling them to accurately redefine evolution from back in time than ever before. It is noteworthy that human lineage emerged from the chimp, roughly 7 million years ago, which means that scientists only have information from 10 percent of our evolutionary journey.
There is no genetic information linking us to the Homo erectus, and the only evidence we rely on is the body proportions of the extinct species as it very much resembles modern humans. Lead author of the study professor Eske Willerslev writes, “This research is a game-changer that opens up a lot of options for further evolutionary study in terms of humans as well as mammals. It will revolutionize the methods of investigating evolution based on molecular markers and it will open a completely new field of ancient biomolecular studies.”
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