New life for old bones

Question 1

New Life for Old Bones

Author / date?

Answer 1

Culotta, E (2015)

Question 2

Main points

Answer 2

• Modern ways of studying genetics have vastly increased
• Ancient DNA sequencing
• Contamination is a big issue
• Very expensive - few big labs taking the lead.

Question 3

New places to find ancient DNA sequences

Answer 3

• the dense petrosal bone fo the ear prserves DNA well
• Plaque on teeth preserves DNA
• Sequencing DNA found in scoops of ancient soil or ice to reconstruct past ecosystems
• Teasing out DNA from specimens found in the tropics where heat and humidity attack the molecule.