William Atkins
Thursday, 11 March 2010 04:12
Science -
Biology
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Scientists have found that fossilized eggs, some thousands of years old, are excellent sources of DNA. The ancient eggs from the extinct emus of Australia, moas of New Zealand, and elephant birds of Madagascar are prime examples of how this new technique is able to retrieve DNA from the shells.
For the first time, scientists have been able to successfully extract deoxyribonucleic acid (commonly called DNA), which is the substance that provides the specific genetic information for all living organisms, except for a few viruses.
The ability to extract DNA from eggshells is considered a much better source of ancient DNA than other much-more-easily-degradable materials such as bone, skin, and hair.
According to the Telegraph.co.uk article “
Extinct elephant bird of Madagascar could live again,”
“Researchers said the successful recovery of ancient DNA from eggshell ‘… has major implications in the fields of archaeology and palaeontology’.”From their paper, to be published this week, in the journal
Proceedings of the Royal Society B, Australian researchers Charlotte Oskam and Michael Bunce, both from Murdoch University (Perth, Australia), along with an international group of colleagues, have found a laser technique to use ancient eggshells as an “untapped source” for DNA.
A laser, along with fluorescent green dye, is used to locate DNA while the eggshells are under a microscope.
The researchers state, "
We show that genetic material is preserved in the eggshell matrix and have successfully imaged the DNA via microscopy.” [Telegraph.co.uk]
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