Palaeontology in a molecular world: the search for authentic ancient DNA.
The survival of ancient DNA in specimens up to several thousands of years old is established. However, there have been several claims concerning the recovery of geologically ancient DNA from fossil material many millions of years old. The authenticity of these fossil DNA sequences is questionable on theoretical and empirical grounds, and the existence of authentic geologically ancient DNA remains to be proven.
The Natural History Museum, Cromwell Road, London,USW7 5BD.
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Austin
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Smith
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Thomas