Recent research into proteins extracted from the enamel of six Homo erectus teeth sheds light on our evolutionary past. Conducted on remains found in China, this groundbreaking study offers a unique perspective on the genetic heritage of one of humanity’s earliest ancestors, estimated to have lived around 400,000 years ago. The findings indicate that Homo erectus may have exhibited genetic mutations that were later inherited by Denisovans, influencing some modern human populations today.
Artist’s reconstruction of Homo erectus. Image credit: Yale University.
“Homo erectus holds a pivotal role in human evolution as the first species of our genus to migrate from Africa,” remarked lead author Qiaomei Fu, Ph.D., from the Institute of Vertebrate Paleontology and Paleoanthropology at the Chinese Academy of Sciences.
“Despite their significance, the genetic traits, population diversity, and connections of Homo erectus to contemporary humans remain largely unexplored due to a lack of molecular evidence.”
“Thus, the contribution of Homo erectus to human evolution remains a fascinating enigma and a topic of ongoing debate.”
The research team studied Homo erectus fossils sourced from three sites across northern and southern China: Zhoukoudian near Beijing, Hexian in Anhui province, and Sunjiadong in Henan province.
Instead of attempting to recover DNA, the researchers focused on proteins found within tooth enamel.
From the six Homo erectus specimens, they identified two unique amino acid variants in a tooth development protein known as ameloblastin. One variant, AMBN-A253G, has not been registered in any other human or primate species.
The second variant, AMBN-M273V, was previously recognized exclusively in Denisovans.
These discoveries imply that ancient populations of Homo erectus in East Asia may have interbred with Denisovans, leaving behind genetic signatures.
Portrait of a young Denisovan woman based on a skeletal profile reconstructed from ancient DNA. Image credit: Maayan Harel.
“The first significant finding is the previously unidentified AMBN-A253G mutation, which serves as a potential molecular marker linked to Homo erectus‘ large population,” the researchers stated.
“Our analysis suggests that specimens from these three locations belonged to a single evolutionary lineage.”
“The second variant, AMBN-M273V, previously thought unique to Denisovans, is now shown to share a common origin with the Homo erectus population,” the team added.
This second variant likely entered the Denisovan lineage through interbreeding, eventually contributing to some modern human populations in Southeast Asia and Oceania.
“This research offers unprecedented insights into the possible connections between East Asian Homo erectus populations and their deep genetic links to certain modern humans, including Zhoukoudians and Denisovans.”
The complete findings are detailed in a recent publication in Nature.
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Q. Fu et al. studied 6 enamel proteins from Homo erectus specimens throughout China. The study was published online in Nature on May 13, 2026. doi: 10.1038/s41586-026-10478-8
Source: www.sci.news
