On the origin of our species
Posted: Mon Feb 15, 2021 10:15 pm
These are exciting times we live in. Who knew that ancient DNA (aDNA) could be retrieved from soils & sediments? (Urine & feces residues?) Who knew that proteins could serve as a proxy in lieu of DNA for species identification of fragmentary bone fossils. (ZOOMS) They're constantly working to push back the timeline limits of aDNA retrieval from ever older fossils. Who knows? They may finally get good quality DNA from Homo Erectus fossils!
https://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases ... 020821.php
The success of direct genetic analyses so far highlights the importance of a wider, ancient genetic record. This will require continued technological improvements in ancient DNA (aDNA) retrieval, biomolecular screening of fragmentary fossils to find unrecognised human material, wider searches for sedimentary aDNA, and improvements in the evolutionary information provided by ancient proteins. Interdisciplinary analysis of the growing genetic, fossil and archaeological records will undoubtedly reveal many new surprises about the roots of modern human ancestry.
https://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases ... 020821.php
The success of direct genetic analyses so far highlights the importance of a wider, ancient genetic record. This will require continued technological improvements in ancient DNA (aDNA) retrieval, biomolecular screening of fragmentary fossils to find unrecognised human material, wider searches for sedimentary aDNA, and improvements in the evolutionary information provided by ancient proteins. Interdisciplinary analysis of the growing genetic, fossil and archaeological records will undoubtedly reveal many new surprises about the roots of modern human ancestry.