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In a groundbreaking study, researchers have turned to enamel proteins to untangle the genetic mysteries of Paranthropus robustus, an ancient hominin species. Through innovative techniques, scientists were able to extract protein fragments from teeth that are roughly 2 million years old, providing essential new insights into this enigmatic species.

Paranthropus robustus fossils appear in the record around 3 million years ago and coexist with australopithecines and early Homo species for about a million years. Despite being limited to Africa and lacking DNA preservation beyond 20,000 years, researchers have relied on enamel proteins, resilient components in teeth, to push the boundaries of our understanding.

Remarkably, the analysis not only confirmed the presence of multiple proteins but also provided clues about the sex of the individuals. The presence of AMELY—a protein encoded on the Y chromosome—revealed that one of the smaller teeth once thought to belong to a female actually came from a male. This finding challenges the hypothesis that size differences in Paranthropus robustus were driven by sexual dimorphism.

The researchers conducted their study at South Africa's Cradle of Humankind World Heritage Site, obtaining and analyzing samples within both Copenhagen and Cape Town labs. They identified six proteins across all samples, covering 425 amino acids. Some amino acids showed chemical damage, verifying their ancient origins.

This study represents a significant advance in our understanding of Paranthropus robustus, elucidating the complex relationships between species and individuals within this genus. While the analysis suggests close genetic ties between Paranthropus robustus and our own genus, Homo, the researchers emphasize that more data is necessary to confirm these findings definitively.

Lead researcher Enrico Cappellini from the University of Copenhagen's Globe Institute aims to refine these techniques further, hoping to expand the dataset on extinct hominin species. Despite the challenge that the method consumes part of these invaluable fossil samples, the results promise to deepen our knowledge of human ancestry.

As the field of ancient protein analysis evolves, the potential to uncover more about hominin species like Paranthropus robustus continues to grow, offering a new frontier in the study of our ancient origins.