Early Pleistocene enamel proteome from Dmanisi might solve evolutionary mysteries
By Mariam Chanishvili
Thursday, September 12
Scientists have been able to extract important genetic information about 1.77 million years ago from tooth enamel found in Dmanisi – showing the presence of protein residues in fossils of the Cretaceous period.
Scientists say "this is a breakthrough in ancient biomolecular research, enabling scientists to restore the evolutionary picture of much earlier epochs than it was possible to date, as well as investigating the history of animals and human ancestors."
The world's leading scientific journal Nature Biomolecular Research in Dmanisi publishes an article titled: Early Pleistocene enamel proteome from Dmanisi resolves Stephanorhinus phylogeny - Scapanorhynchus pyroxenes from the pre-Pleistocene period found in Dmanisi.
https://www.nature.com/articles/s41586-019-1555-y
Along with Georgians, the authors of the article are scientists from leading European and US research centers. The analysis was carried out in the laboratories of the Max Planck Institute in Copenhagen, Cambridge. Italian scientists from the University of Florence actively participated in paleontological studies.
“Here we address the phylogenetic relationships of the Eurasian Rhinocerotidae of the Pleistocene epoch, using the proteome of dental enamel from a Stephanorhinus tooth that is approximately 1.77-Myr old, recovered from the archaeological site of Dmanisi (South Caucasus, Georgia),” reads the introduction of the article.
The collections at the National Museum of Georgia contain important information about the history of mankind, which is being researched by the world's leading laboratories.
General Director of the National Museum of Georgia David Lortkipanidze and paleontologist and professor at the University of Florence, Lorenzo Rook spoke about discoveries and new research.
Supporters of the Dmanisi project are Shota Rustaveli National Science Foundation of Georgia, National Academy of Sciences of Georgia and Ivane Javakhishvili Tbilisi State University.
