Egyptian TV host Ahmed Fayek revealed a groundbreaking scientific milestone during his show Egypt Can on DMC TV channel, announcing that a fully Egyptian research paper has been published in the prestigious journal Science, one of the world’s most influential scientific publications.
Fayek highlighted that the achievement emerged from the Faculty of Science at Mansoura University, where the “Salam Lab” team demonstrated the ability of Egyptian researchers to compete globally, earning wide recognition within international scientific circles.
In what is being described as a historic first, the research was conducted under full Egyptian leadership and supervision, carrying the name of an Egyptian university. The study is led by Dr. Shorouk El Ashqar under the supervision of Dr. Hesham Sallam, with limited participation from a single foreign researcher.
For decades, scientists linked the origin of modern apes primarily to East Africa, leaving the exact timeline and location of their early evolution unresolved. In a breakthrough, the Salam Lab team, led by Hesham Sallam, identified a new fossil ape species, Masripithecus moghraensis, from remains discovered at Wadi Moghra in Egypt’s northern desert, dating to approximately 17 to 18 million years, the Early Miocene epoch.
The finding offers crucial fossil evidence from North Africa, suggesting that early ape evolution may have occurred across a wider region, including North Africa and the Middle East, rather than being limited to East Africa.
Using advanced anatomical, statistical, phylogenetic, and biogeographic analyses, the research helps bridge a significant gap in evolutionary history and positions Masripithecus as a key species in understanding early primate dispersal. Its publication in Science, which accepts only around 6 percent of submissions annually, highlights its global scientific importance.
Dr. Sallam described the achievement as a major leap for Egyptian scientific research, noting that it marks an unprecedented milestone for both Egypt and the region. He added that the discovery, based on evidence from the Egyptian desert, reveals a previously unknown chapter of natural history.
He emphasized that the breakthrough is the result of years of dedicated teamwork, reflecting a shared national accomplishment driven entirely by Egyptian efforts.
The study was conducted under the scientific leadership of Hesham Sallam, with Dr. Shorouk El Ashqar serving as lead author, highlighting the growing role of Egyptian women in advanced scientific research.
Sallam concluded with optimism about the future, affirming that further discoveries are expected and that Egypt will continue to strengthen its position on the global scientific research map.
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