The oldest human DNA

The study’s leading author, Enrico Cappellini, also serves as the associate professor of the Globe Institute under the University of Copenhagen. In an interview credited to Science Daily, he spoke about the previous limits to the study. He explained that much of what they know so far is based either on observations of the physical structure and shape of the fossils or the results of the ancient species’ DNA analysis.

Prior to their experiment with the 800,000-year-old tooth belonging to a Homo antecessor, experts are not able to delve deeper into history. Cappellini further shared that because the DNA has chemical degradation over time, the oldest human DNA that has been retrieved so far is dated approximately 400,000 years. However, thanks to mass spectrometry or palaeoproteomics, the analysis of ancient proteins have finally enabled researchers to overcome these scientific limits.