The First Proteins of Homo erectus Discovered: A Breakthrough in Human Evolution

本站添加: 2026-05-19

[00:00:05]Breaking news, Chinese scientist identify Homo erectus genetic signatures in modern humans.

[00:00:22]>> [music] >> Reported [music] first by Chemical & Engineering News based on new paleoproteomics research.

[00:00:39]Scientists recovered molecular data from six Homo erectus teeth.

[00:00:56]They found a unique amino acid substitution, met to val at [music] position 273.

[00:01:05]This mutation is specific to Homo erectus.

[00:01:11]The same mutation appears in Denisovan DNA, but that is likely to introgression between the two species.

[00:01:19]And it persists in a small fraction of modern humans.

[00:01:25]CNN reports on the [music] findings that is an example of quote unquote stone age sex.

[00:01:32]CNN also reports it as Denisovan DNA, true, but that's only half the story.

[00:01:40]Other media outlets chose creative terminology.

[00:01:46]Of particular note, two media outlets got it exactly right. The Independent, ancient teeth reveal early humans mated with ancestor Homo erectus.

[00:01:58]The proteomics show a direct Homo erectus molecular signature, not just Denisovan-mediated.

[00:02:08]Years ago, researchers in Australia and New Zealand did detect weak super-archaic signals [music] in Asians, Papuans, and Melanesians.

[00:02:19]For years, geneticists like Murray Cox [music] have pointed to hints of older, more complex archaic introgression [music] in this region.

[00:02:29]Cox and some in the multi-regional camp may have just been proven right.

[00:02:36]Kilmiefool told IFL Science, "We really need to get more Homo erectus DNA to understand exactly how Homo erectus is related to other humans." End quote.

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