In another first, while it was previously thought unrealistic to extract DNA from hot, arid environments, the middens in question were located in the Pilbara region of WA, where temperatures soar.
Lead researcher Dáithí Murray, from Murdoch University’s Ancient DNA Research Lab, says this finding is interesting not only because it is the oldest recovered DNA, but because of its unusual location.
“It’s the oldest DNA that has been recovered in Australia and that’s pretty special for a hot, arid environment such as this one,” says Dáithí.
Dáithí says the location of the find has raised questions surrounding the formation and preservation of DNA. “Generally speaking, DNA survival is better in total frozen environments, while DNA in hot, arid environments is usually more controversial,” he says.
Dr Jeremy Austin from the Australian Centre for Ancient DNA at the University of Adelaide agrees that the findings indicate that DNA can be recovered from arid environments.
“They demonstrate that palaeo-DNA can be recovered from regions outside of the cold and temperate regions where most DNA research has been focused,” says Jeremy.
The midden material consisted of animal faeces and urine, plant and animal tissue as well as bone, hair and eggshells, which had cemented together over centuries.
Continued: http://www.australiangeographic.com.au/journal/30000-year-old-poo-oldest-dna-extraction.htm
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