Ancient DNA degrades rapidly, hindering the study of early human evolution. A new technique, paleoproteomics, analyzes ancient proteins which survive longer than DNA. This allows scientists to study human ancestors beyond the limitations of DNA analysis, particularly in Africa where DNA preservation is poor. Recent studies using paleoproteomics have successfully identified the sex of ancient hominins and revealed relationships between extinct human relatives. While still in its early stages, paleoproteomics holds immense potential for transforming our understanding of human evolutionary history.

Prepared by Olivia Bennett and reviewed by editorial team.