Tropical Bird Shows Potential of Ancient DNA Studies (IMAGE)

Florida Museum of Natural History

Tropical Bird Shows Potential of Ancient DNA Studies

Caption

Scientists recovered DNA from this 2,500-year-old extinct Caribbean bird, Caracara creightoni. The DNA-decaying heat and light of the tropics and birds' light, breakable bones have posed challenges to studies of ancient DNA. This work "puts an exclamation point on what's possible," said study co-author Robert Guralnick.

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Florida Museum photo by Kristen Grace

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