By Dan Vergano / USA TODAY
DNA experts report the oldest gene map ever completed, from a horse from 700,000 years ago
The horse’s bones were frozen in permafrost in Canada’s Yukon, preserving the DNA
The find extends the possibility of recovering ancient, frozen DNA to a million years ago
Gene experts said Wednesday they’ve been able to unravel the genetic blueprint of a prehistoric horse that lived in Canada some 700,000 years ago, the oldest DNA mapping effort ever attempted.
A dramatic extension of the limits of ancient DNA recovery, the advance re-creates a gene map, or genome, which is roughly 10 times older than the previous record-holder. The feat suggests that ancient DNA may be recoverable from frozen remains almost a million years old, raising the possibility of someday recovering even more ancient gene maps of humanity’s primitive ancestors.
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