Molecular paleontology |
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Authors: | I Marota F Rollo |
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Institution: | (1) Laboratory of Molecular Archaeo-Anthropology/Ancient DNA, UNICAM, via F. Camerini 2, 62032 Camerino (Italy), Fax: + 39 0737 636216, e-mail: isolina@cambio.unicam.it, IT |
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Abstract: | Molecular paleontology, i.e., the recovery of DNA from ancient human, animal, and plant remains is an innovative research
field that has received progressively more attention from the scientific community since the 1980s. In the last decade, the
field was punctuated by claims which aroused great interest but eventually turned out to be fakes - the most famous being
the sequence of dinosaur DNA later shown to be of human origin. At present, the discipline is characterized by some certainties
and many doubts. We know, for example, that we have reasonable chances to recover authentic DNA from a mammoth carcass, while
our chances are negligible (or nonexistent) in the case of a dynastic mummy from Egypt. On the other hand, though we are developing
convincing models of DNA decay in bone, we are not yet able to predict whether a certain paleontological or archeological
site will yield material amenable to DNA analysis. This article reviews some of the most important and promising investigations
using molecular paleontology approaches, such as studies on the conservation of DNA in human bone, the quest for ancient DNA
in permafrost-frozen fauna, the Tyrolean iceman, and the Neandertals.
Received 5 April 2001; received after revision 5 July 2001; accepted 5 July 2001 |
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Keywords: | , Ancient DNA, human bone, iceman, mammoth, neandertal, mummy, |
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