This is a discovery that looks like something out of a Jurassic Park movie. The scientists They have found a DNA of two million years of existence, breaking the previous record of one million. The research was published in the journal Nature.
The microscopic fragments, each a few millionths of a millimeter long, they were found in sediments in northern Greenland.
DNA has allowed experts map a prehistoric ecosystem consisting of animals such as reindeer, hares, and even mastodons, often described as a furry elephant from the ice age.
This new discovery shows that mastodons made it all the way to Greenland before going extinct. Evidence of plants such as birch and poplar, as well as a variety of microorganisms, were also found.
Professor Eske Willerslev, Fellow of Saint John College, University of Cambridge, said: “A new chapter has finally opened spanning a further million years of history and, for the first time, we can look directly at the DNA of a past ecosystem that goes back a long time.”
“DNA can degrade rapidly, but we have shown that, under the right circumstances, we can now go further back in time than anyone could have dared to imagine.”
However, the team said their discovery could provide clues on how best to counter the “devastating impact of global warming.”
“It is possible that genetic engineering could mimic the strategy developed by plants and trees two million years ago to survive in a climate characterized by rising temperatures and prevent the extinction of some species, plants and trees.” (YO)
Source: Eluniverso
Paul is a talented author and journalist with a passion for entertainment and general news. He currently works as a writer at the 247 News Agency, where he has established herself as a respected voice in the industry.
