Traces of ancient DNA have been found preserved in a fossilized sea turtle dating back to six million years ago.
During specimen examination, they noticed that specific bone cells, known as osteocytes, were exceptionally well-preserved within the fossil.
Surprisingly, researchers found the presence of ancient genetic material. DNA is generally susceptible to decay, but under the right conditions, it can be preserved in ancient remnants. “This discovery gives the fossil vertebrates preserved on the Caribbean coast of Panama enormous importance not only for understanding biodiversity at the time of the emergence of the Isthmus of Panama,” noted the release.
"The Caribbean fossils from Panama that we have managed to rescue over the years are helping to rewrite the history of marine vertebrates of the Isthmus," said Carlos De Gracia, co-author of the study and a doctoral fellow affiliated with the Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute.
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