DNA remnants found in fossil of 6 million year old turtle
The Hindu
Remnants of DNA have been discovered in fossilised remains dating to 6 million years ago of a sea turtle closely related to today’s Kemp’s ridley and olive ridley turtles
Remnants of DNA have been discovered in fossilised remains dating to 6 million years ago of a sea turtle closely related to today's Kemp's ridley and olive ridley turtles, marking one of the rare times genetic material has been identified in such ancient fossils of a vertebrate, researchers said on Thursday.
The researchers said some bone cells, called osteocytes, were exquisitely preserved in the fossil, which was excavated along Panama's Caribbean coast in 2015. The fossil is partial, with a relatively complete carapace - the turtle's shell - but not the rest of the skeleton. The turtle would have been about a foot (30 cm) long when alive, they said.
In some of the osteocytes, the cell nuclei were preserved and reacted to a chemical solution that allowed the researchers to recognise the presence of remnants of DNA, the molecule that carries genetic information for an organism's development and functioning, said palaeontologist Edwin Cadena, lead author of the study published in the Journal of Vertebrate Paleontology.
Also Read | Does palaeogenomics explain our origins?
"I want to point out that we did not extract DNA, we only were able to recognise the presence of DNA traces in the nuclei," added Cadena, of Universidad del Rosario in Bogota and the Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute.
DNA is quite perishable, though in the right conditions it has been preserved in some ancient remains. Researchers last year reported the discovery of DNA from animals, plants and microbes dating to about 2 million years ago from sediment at Greenland's remote northernmost point.
Cadena said the only older vertebrate fossils than the newly described turtle to have been found with similar DNA remnants were of two dinosaurs - Tyrannosaurus, which lived about 66 million years ago, and Brachylophosaurus, which lived about 78 million years ago. Cadena said DNA remnants also have been reported in insects dating to tens of millions of years ago.
Flight six of Starship was seen as a test of whether SpaceX’s first booster catch was pure precision or relied on a stroke of luck.
Discover the fascinating science behind how a pencil writes, from carbon atoms to condensed matter physics explained concisely.
North American cicadas have life cycles that last for prime numbers of years, putting pressure on the idea that humans created mathematics.
Stationary objects balance on a wide base due to gravity, while moving vehicles balance due to forward force.
The Ministry of Defence expects the MoA to enable the two organisations to access testing facilities available with each other for mutual benefit.
Research has uncovered the transmission of pathogens between managed honey bees and wild pollinators, a process called pathogen spillover and spillback
Podcasts have become our best friends, especially during the Covid-19 pandemic. Whether you are cooking, sketching or going on an evening walk, there is a show that matches your mood. From horror tales to informative conversations to just two friends talking about anything & everything relatable, podcasts have become a part of our lives unknowingly. Over the years, more voices have joined this audio landscape and filled it with stories that resonate with our lives. Podcasts serve as a reminder that everyone has a story worth telling and listening to!
CSTEP study shows Bengaluru needs 36,000 EV charging guns, 400 stations by 2030, with potential impact on grid.
A nuclear fusion reaction can generate more energy than it consumes, but the technologies to harness it to generate electricity continue to stay out of reach.
BMW has introduced the new M340i xDrive, a high-performance sedan combining strong design, advanced technology, and the capability for thrilling drives.
This week’s Sci-five quiz is on semi-conductor.