Older plant DNA

2003/11/01 Elhuyar Zientzia Iturria: Elhuyar aldizkaria

• Paleontologia
• Arkeologia

Researchers at the University of Copenhagen have discovered the DNA of plants about 400,000 years ago. The sample, extracted from the permafrost between the Siberian rivers Kolyma and Lena, consists of herbs, reeds and shrubs. In addition, being the DNA of chloroplasts, it can be said that they are plants grown in the same place where they are.

So far, the oldest DNA of the plants found was 20,000 years ago. A great leap has been made over time and researchers are looking for older, well-preserved samples.

In the same place, animal DNA fragments have also been studied and it has been observed that mammoths, bison and horses lived in the last period of ice. Undoubtedly, DNA research has become an essential tool to better understand the ecosystems of the past.