Researchers analyzing ancient tooth proteins from six Homo erectus specimens in China dating to 400,000 years ago found genetic evidence of interbreeding between Homo erectus and Denisovans, identifying a shared amino acid variant in the protein ameloblastin. The variant, also found in a small fraction of modern humans, suggests Homo erectus may be the unknown 'ghost' species that contributed to the modern human genome.
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Researchers analyzing ancient tooth proteins from six Homo erectus specimens in China dating to 400,000 years ago found genetic evidence of interbreeding between Homo erectus and Denisovans, identifying a shared amino acid variant in the protein ameloblastin. The variant, also found in a small fraction of modern humans, suggests Homo erectus may be the unknown 'ghost' species that contributed to the modern human genome.