Researchers have successfully extracted genetic information from an ancient human relative, marking it as the oldest genetic data recovered to date. This groundbreaking achievement involved analyzing protein sequences from several Paranthropus robustus tooth fossils discovered in a South African cave dating back approximately two million years.

The genetic material obtained from these fossils represents the earliest ever collected from any hominin, significantly extending the genetic record to unprecedented periods and locations, according to scientists.

Led by Enrico Capellini from the University of Copenhagen, the study utilized mass spectrometry to examine proteins found in the enamel of the teeth. One of the proteins identified, known as amelogenin-Y, indicated that two of the teeth belonged to males, while the presence of the X-chromosome version of the protein suggested that the other two teeth likely came from females.