Scientists have uncovered molecular evidence pointing to a surprising genetic connection between Homo erectus, Denisovans, and modern humans, according to a study published in Nature.
Researchers at the Chinese Academy of Sciences used a non-destructive acid-etching technique to extract enamel proteins from six 400,000-year-old teeth found across China, keeping the rare fossils physically intact.
Key Takeaways
- Shared Lineage: Two key enamel protein mutations were detected across teeth from three fossil sites (Zhoukoudian, Hexian, and Sunjiadong), proving these Homo erectus groups belonged to the same evolutionary population.
- The Denisovan Bridge: One variant, AMBN M273V, was previously thought to exist only in Denisovans. Finding it in Homo erectus reveals it was shared across ancient lineages far earlier than known.
- Trace to Living Humans: Researchers suggest this genetic marker passed from East Asian Homo erectus into Denisovans, and ultimately into modern populations in Southeast Asia and Oceania through interbreeding.
- DNA Alternative: The team's low-damage extraction method allows scientists to study proteins in ancient fossils where fragile DNA has long degraded, opening new avenues for mapping early human origins.
