Ancient ground squirrel coprolites, found in Yukon permafrost, yield DNA from hundreds of Pleistocene species. These 700,000-year-old fecal pellets reveal a detailed ecosystem picture and a unique squirrel evolutionary branch, proving invaluable paleontological archives.
Research reveals that ZPFM1 & GSDMC genes played vital roles in early horse domestication, impacting tameness and physical resilience for riders during the Bronze Age. Ancient DNA analysis provides key insights.
In unconventional experiments with lab-made beef jerky, the team found that such glassy DNA can remain stable for at least a year at room temperature and stand up to varied insults including being microwaved, run over with a car, smashed with a fastball and blasted with a shotgun.
