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Jun 02 2025
7A groundbreaking study has revealed both the biological sex and genetic diversity of Paranthropus robustus individuals through the analysis of fossilized tooth enamel. Published in Science, the research was conducted by a global team of anthropologists, evolutionary theorists, biologists, and historians, offering rare insight into this early hominin species.
Paranthropus robustus, a type of australopithecine, lived in present-day South Africa between 1 and 3 million years ago, placing it in the Middle Pleistocene. Fossil records from this era are limited in genetic detail, as ancient DNA does not typically survive in such old remains. As a result, the evolutionary placement of P. robustus remains debated, with some experts grouping it alongside Australopithecus africanus.
To address this gap, researchers examined enamel proteins from four P. robustus teeth recovered from Swartkrans cave in South Africa. These individuals, dated to approximately 1.8 to 2.2 million years ago, represent some of the earliest members of the species ever studied using this method.
Enamel proteins, which are more resilient than DNA in hot, arid climates, provided crucial molecular information. The team identified two male and two female individuals, challenging previous assumptions that sex could be determined solely by fossil size. They also discovered molecular differences among the specimens, including one genetically distinct individual—potentially indicating either intergroup variation or migration from a separate group.
The findings suggest that P. robustus populations were genetically diverse and likely structured into separate groups, with interbreeding between them being common. This study marks a significant advance in understanding early hominin biology, made possible through the enduring record of enamel proteins.
Source:https://phys.org/news/2025-05-enamel-proteins-paranthropus-robustus-teeth.html
This is non-financial/medical advice and made using AI so could be wrong.
