Scientists Were Studying This Ancient DNA When They Discovered A Girl Whose Parents Were Two Different Species

Past Limitations

Enrico Cappellini, the study’s lead author and associate professor at the Globe Institute at the University of Copenhagen, spoke to Science Daily about the study’s past limitations. “Much of what we know so far is based on ancient DNA analysis results or observations of the shape and physical structure of fossils,” he said.

Past Limitations

Before Their Experiment

Experts hadn’t been able to look back so far in history before their experiment with the 800,000-year-old tooth of Homo antecessor. “Because of the chemical breakdown of DNA over time,” Cappellini continued, “the oldest human DNA retrieved so far is dated at no more than roughly 400,000 years.”

Before Their Experiment