Scientists in Newcastle are celebrating a world breakthrough which could offer a dramatic insight into the evolution of animals and humans.
Experts at Newcastle University have been working with Oxford, Harvard and Michigan state universities to perfect a technique which teases information from the protein in ancient bones.
The team has been able to examine the molecular structure of fossil bison bones from Siberia and Alaska, which are at least 55,000 years old, and establish that the protein key could allow work on samples from up to 10 million years ago.
This clears the way for new light to be shed on debates such as who were the ancestors of modern humans and whether birds are related to dinosaurs. It could also provide new insights into extinct species.
Dr Christina Nielsen-Marsh, Newcastle University bio-archaeologist, said: "Although 55,000 years sounds a long time, it is not going back far enough to tell whether a species has really evolved. We hope to go back further in time and analyse older fossils to see how species have evolved over millions of years."
The research, funded by the Wellcome Trust and the National Science Foundation, should allow scientists to gain the most accurate information yet about the genetic make-up of ancient species.
The Newcastle team is also waiting for an imminent decision on funding which would allow them to use their protein technique in conjunction with research by Bradfod University to learn about the diet of fossil creatures. Research has already shown that Neanderthal man ate virtually only meat with very little in the way of vegetation. The protein work will enable scientists to track back and gain DNA information from fossils.
Dr Matthew Collins, reader in biogeochemistry at Newcastle, said: "DNA is now being recovered from archaeological samples as viewers will have seen on TV programmes like Meet the Ancestors and which tells us about the sex of individuals, evidence of diseases and relationships between people.
"There has been an explosion in this field but DNA is fragile and does not survive very well.
"Protein is more robust and is likely to survive further back in time."
It is thought that DNA can only survive for up to 100,000 years, whereas proteins could exist for up to 10 million.
The new technique is a big advance on the traditional way of studying changes between species through comparing the shape and size of bones.
This can include a large margin of error because bones are prone to changing their shape over time.
Dr Collins said that the protein breakthrough could be brought to bear on the issues of the relationship between Neanderthals and "modern" humans and whether all people are descended from one limited stock from Africa or evolved in many different parts of the world.
"There is a vast number of similar questions involving different animal species. Now, for the first time, we have found a way of harnessing this new technology and can hopefully go back deeper in time to tackle evolutionary questions."
Another area for research is on extinct species, such as the sabre-toothed tiger or woolly rhino, and their links with animals today. Work has already shown that the dodo was a type of pigeon.
