Koba bear opens the way
2005/07/01 Elhuyar Zientzia Iturria: Elhuyar aldizkaria
The remains found in the caves present great sequencing difficulties mainly due to their DNA contamination of other living beings. They have now succeeded in sequencing some DNA fragments from the skeleton of two bear bears from the cave 40,000 years ago. To do this, we have ruled out the first step that is normally done, making copies of DNA with polymerase, and we have proceeded to direct sequencing.
The sequenced parts have been compared with the dog's genome to separate those of the bear from the rest. Thus, California researchers have investigated that 6% of the sequences were cave bears.
In this sense, it is expected that in the future other vestiges that have been found in the caves, such as those of the neardenthal, are sequenced, although there are other obstacles to this.
