Intact DNA in ancient permafrost.
Contrary to the generally held notions about microbial survival, the recently published paper by Johnson et al., 'Ancient bacteria show evidence of DNA repair', presents evidence suggesting that non-spore-forming bacteria in ancient samples are apparently alive, as judged by intact DNA, and fare better than spores. The data presented in this work raise intriguing questions about the nature of bacteria in many of the ancient samples reported to date: are they spores, persisters, sessile vegetative cells or do they make up a slow-growing population?
Lewis
Kim
K
Department of Biology, Northeastern University, Boston, MA 02115, USA. k.lewis@neu.edu
Epstein
Slava
S
Godoy
Veronica G
VG
Hong
Sun-Hee
SH
D001419:Bacteria / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D018407:Bacterial Physiological Phenomena; D003080:Cold Temperature; D019015:Geologic Sediments / Q000382:microbiology*; D007053:Ice
D007053:Ice