Molecular phylogenetic inference from saber-toothed cat fossils of Rancho La Brea.
A method for the successful extraction of sequestered cellular DNA from 14,000-year-old fossil bones was developed and applied to asphalt-preserved specimens of the extinct saber-toothed cat, Smilodon fatalis. Two distinct gene segments, the mitochondrial gene for 12S rRNA and nuclear FLA-I (the feline class I major histocompatibility complex gene), from three different individual fossil specimens were cloned and sequenced after PCR amplification. Comparison of fossil-derived DNA sequences to homologous regions in 15 living carnivorous species, including 9 species of Felidae and 6 nonfelids, affirmed the phylogenetic placement of Smilodon within the modern radiation of Felidae distinct from the Miocene paleofelid (Nimravidae) saber-toothed "cat" species. These results raise the prospect of obtaining genetically informative DNA from preserved bones of extinct fossil species, particularly among the 2 million specimens excavated from the asphaltic sediments at Rancho La Brea in metropolitan Los Angeles.
Janczewski
D N
DN
Biological Carcinogenesis and Development Program, Program Resources, Inc./DynCorp, Frederick, MD.
Yuhki
N
N
Gilbert
D A
DA
Jefferson
G T
GT
O'Brien
S J
SJ
D000818:Animals; D001483:Base Sequence; D002335:Carnivora / Q000235:genetics*; D003033:Coal Tar; D004272:DNA, Mitochondrial / Q000235:genetics*; D005580:Fossils; D049690:History, Ancient; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D009838:Oligodeoxyribonucleotides / Q000737:chemistry; D010011:Osteocytes; D010802:Phylogeny; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction; D012335:RNA, Ribosomal / Q000235:genetics*; D016415:Sequence Alignment; D012689:Sequence Homology, Nucleic Acid
D004272:DNA, Mitochondrial; D009838:Oligodeoxyribonucleotides; D012335:RNA, Ribosomal; D003033:Coal Tar