分子镜:灭绝的地面惰动物Nothrotheriops shastensis的便和饮食
H N Poinar1, M Hofreiter, W G Spaulding
1Max-Planck-Institute for Evolutionary Anthropology and Zoological Institute, University of Munich, Luisenstrasse 14, D-80333 Munich, Germany.
Science (New York, N.Y.)
|July 17, 1998
概括
古代惰动物的DNA从化石便中使用一种新的化学处理方法回收. 这一突破允许对古代饮食进行分析,并识别已灭绝的物种.
科学领域:
- 古遗传学是古遗传学的一部分.
- 分子生物学分子生物学
- 古生物学的古生物学
背景情况:
- 通过聚合酶链反应 (PCR) 进行DNA放大是新鲜样品的标准.
- 古代便 (coprolites) 由于交叉链接而抵抗了DNA放大.
- 普莱斯托时代的合石含有糖和氨基群之间的交叉链接.
研究的目的:
- 开发一种方法来放大古代便中的DNA.
- 来识别从普莱斯托时代的合岩石中发现的物种和饮食.
主要方法:
- 一种化学剂N-phenacylthiazolium化物被用来切断古代DNA的交叉链接.
- 用PCR扩大了DNA序列.
- DNA分析确定了物种和植物DNA.
主要成果:
- 从普莱斯托时代的合石中成功地放大了DNA序列.
- 这种石被认为源自一个已经灭绝的,Nothrotheriops shastensis.
- 来自七个组的植物DNA表明,在更高的海拔地区存在一种饮食.
结论:
- 化学处理使得从古老的矿石中恢复DNA.
- 这种方法可以识别已经灭绝的巨型动物及其饮食习惯.
- 古环境重建可以通过古代DNA分析得到信息.
更多相关视频
相关概念视频
01:50What is Monogastric Digestion?
The human body contains a monogastric digestive system. In a monogastric digestive system, the stomach only contains one chamber in which it digests food. Several other animal species also have monogastric digestive systems, including pigs, horses, dogs, and birds. This chapter, however, focuses on the human digestive system.
02:56The Fossil Record
The fossil record documents only a small fraction of all organisms that have ever inhabited Earth. Fossilization is a rare process, and most organisms never become fossils. Moreover, the fossil record only exhibits fossils that have been discovered. Nevertheless, sedimentary rock fossils of long-lived, abundant, hard-bodied organisms dominate the fossil record. These fossils offer valuable information, such as an organism's physical form, behavior, and age. Studying the fossil record helps...