The "museomics" process is so detailed that the scientists could even identify microbes, viruses and other organisms present on the remains of the two thylacines, one of which had been dried by a taxidermist, the other stored in ethanol. Oliver Ryder, associate director of genetics at San Diego Zoo Conservation Research, told Discovery News that the study "is a remarkable accomplishment." "The prospect that comparison of mitochondrial sequences of ancient DNA samples could provide information useful for understanding the process of extinction ... can be immediately applied to currently endangered species," he added. One such endangered species is the Tasmanian devil, currently threatened by dangerously low genetic diversity and an fast-spreading, deadly cancer outbreak. Anders Gotherstrom, a research fellow at the Royal Swedish Academy of Science who worked with Miller on the study, echoed Ryder's view. "We are in the middle of one of the largest mass extinctions ever, and this kind of data from a species that did not survive is very interesting," Gotherstrom told Discovery News. Related Links: |
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