Diverse plant and animal genetic records from Holocene and Pleistocene sediments

E. Willerslev; A.J. Hansen; J. Binladen; T.B. Brand; M.T.P. Gilbert; B. Shapiro; M. Bunce; C. Wiuf; D. Gilichinsky; A. Cooper

doi:10.1126/science.1084114

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Diverse plant and animal genetic records from Holocene and Pleistocene sediments

Journal article

Peer reviewed

Diverse plant and animal genetic records from Holocene and Pleistocene sediments

E. Willerslev, A.J. Hansen, J. Binladen, T.B. Brand, M.T.P. Gilbert, B. Shapiro, M. Bunce, C. Wiuf, D. Gilichinsky and A. Cooper

Science, Vol.300(5620), pp.791-795

2003

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1126/science.1084114

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Abstract

Genetic analyses of permafrost and temperate sediments reveal that plant and animal DNA may be preserved for long periods, even in the absence of obvious macrofossils. In Siberia, five permafrost cores ranging from 400,000 to 10,000 years old contained at least 19 different plant taxa, including the oldest authenticated ancient DNA sequences known, and megafaunal sequences including mammoth, bison, and horse. The genetic data record a number of dramatic changes in the taxonomic diversity and composition of Beringian vegetation and fauna. Temperate cave sediments in New Zealand also yielded DNA sequences of extinct biota, including two species of ratite moa, and 29 plant taxa characteristic of the prehuman environment. Therefore, many sedimentary deposits may contain unique, and widespread, genetic records of paleoenvironments.

Details

Title: Diverse plant and animal genetic records from Holocene and Pleistocene sediments
Authors/Creators: E. Willerslev (Author/Creator)
A.J. Hansen (Author/Creator)
J. Binladen (Author/Creator)
T.B. Brand (Author/Creator)
M.T.P. Gilbert (Author/Creator)
B. Shapiro (Author/Creator)
M. Bunce (Author/Creator)
C. Wiuf (Author/Creator)
D. Gilichinsky (Author/Creator)
A. Cooper (Author/Creator)
Publication Details: Science, Vol.300(5620), pp.791-795
Publisher: American Association for the Advancement of Science
Identifiers: 991005543131907891
Copyright: 2003 American Association for the Advancement of Science
Murdoch Affiliation: Murdoch University
Language: English
Resource Type: Journal article

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Collaboration types: Domestic collaboration; International collaboration
Citation topics: 3 Agriculture, Environment & Ecology; 3.64 Phylogenetics & Genomics; 3.64.2564 Environmental DNA
Web Of Science research areas: Genetics & Heredity
ESI research areas: Molecular Biology & Genetics