Ancient DNA from Greenland reveals a forest where an Arctic desert now sits
In short: Scientists have shattered the previous record for the oldest DNA ever recovered. By extracting genetic material from mineral particles in Greenland's sediment, researchers have peered two million years into the past, uncovering a lush, forested ecosystem that existed long before the current Arctic desert landscape took hold.
For years, the benchmark for the oldest recovered DNA stood at one million years, set in 2021. However, a team led by Eske Willerslev at the University of Cambridge has doubled that timeline. By analyzing the Kap København Formation—a thick sequence of sand, silt, and mud—they successfully retrieved DNA that is approximately two million years old.
This breakthrough did not come from traditional fossilized remains. Instead, the genetic material was found bound to mineral particles within the sediment layers. This mineral binding acted as a protective shield, preventing enzymes from reaching and breaking down the DNA molecules. This method allowed researchers to reconstruct a complex ecosystem from an era when the climate was significantly warmer than today.
The findings reveal a landscape vastly different from the modern Arctic desert. The ancient Greenland was a forest containing spruce (Picea), hawthorn (Crataegus), and Populus flowers. The genetic record also identified 102 genera of plants and various animals, including Arctic hares, reindeer, geese, and rodents related to lemmings and muskrats. Notably, the team tentatively identified DNA from a mastodon, an extinct elephant relative, marking the first time such an animal has been suggested to have lived in Greenland.
This discovery suggests that the temporal limits of paleogenetics are shifting. As Willerslev suggests, the ability to extract environmental DNA from mineral-rich sediments may eventually allow scientists to look twice as far back into the geological past as previously thought possible.
Opens the Intellect+ feed with this card first. Swipe up for the next one.
Sources
- Summary by Intellect · source: The Oldest DNA Ever Found
- Also: DNA from 2 million years ago is the oldest ever recovered | New Scientist
To cite this card, link to https://intellectplus.co.uk/app/science-the-oldest-dna-ever-found.
How we source, check and correct cards: Editorial standards.
General information, not professional advice. Spotted an error? Flag the card or see corrections and complaints.
Intellect Plus is a visual educational discovery platform for exploring fascinating facts and ideas. Brain Food, Not Brain Rot. What is Intellect Plus?
Related
More in Evolutionary biology · More in Science · Latest · A–Z · All topics
