Unlocking the Secrets of Ancient Brains: A Novel Paleoproteomic Method
2025-06-14
Researchers at the University of Oxford have developed a groundbreaking method for extracting and identifying proteins from ancient soft tissues, like brains. Using urea to break down cell membranes, they've successfully analyzed 200-year-old human brain samples, identifying over 1200 proteins—the most diverse paleoproteome ever reported. This technique opens up exciting possibilities for studying ancient diseases, diets, and evolutionary relationships, offering unprecedented insights into the health of past populations.
(phys.org)