Ancient Penguin Discoveries and Evolution Essay - 1207 Words

Ancient Penguin Discoveries and Evolution In a recent BBC News article, Ivan Noble discusses the possibility that ancient penguins may hold the key to unlocking the mysteries behind the complicated molecular clock of evolution. Although a seemingly unlikely animal to research, prehistoric penguin remains in the Antarctic often have been the basis for study, research, as well as debate in the modern science world. Because the prehistoric relatives of the cute and cuddly modern day birds have colonies that are â€Å"characterized by high densities and high mortality†, large deposits of the subfossil bones â€Å"have been serially preserved in the cold Antarctic environment† (Lambert Ritchie), making the animals prime candidates for†¦show more content†¦The distinctive mutations, which are thought to â€Å"occur at a steady rate† (Noble), can then be traced, tracked, and recorded in the fossil record. Determining the age of the remains proved critical in the discovery. In this study, ancient penguin â€Å"guano† (an accumulation of dung) was radio-carbon dated to ensure accurate sequencing. Ages also were assigned to nucleotide sequences from bones, either because the â€Å"bones themselves were directly dated or strata from which they were isolated were dated† (Lambert Ritchie). The radiocarbon ages of Adà ©lie penguin bones demonstrate that both mitochondrial lineages were present at least 6082 years ago, and possibly as far back as 8000 years ago. Surprisingly, it is not the fossils’ themselves, or even the fossils’ old age, that makes the discovery unique. The DNA samples from these bones, however, offer valuable insight into the same molecular clock that scientists use to investigate the evolutionary history of animals. Because the â€Å"ancient DNA extracted from the frozen Adà ©lie penguin bones was of high quality† (Lambert Ritchie), scientists were able to analyze any and all major splits between the two discovered lineages. By comparing the DNA of ancient bone samples to samples from modern day living animals, researchers â€Å"constructed median networks† in order to â€Å"display relationshipsShow MoreRelatedThe discovery of The Dead Sea Scrolls Essay980 Words   |  4 Pages The discovery of The Dead Sea Scrolls was the most important archeological discovery in history, and the single most important biblical find ever. The term Dead Sea Scrolls refers to the 850+ documents, most left in fragments from the wear of time, that were discovered in the Judean desert, around Qumran. Two teenage boys one a 15-year-old Bedouin shepherd first discovered the documents. The boys were surprised to hear the sound of breaking pottery upon throwing rocks down a hole they discoveredRead MoreNeil Degrasse Tyson s Theory Of Evolution1890 Words   |  8 PagesNeil DeGrasse Tyson once said â€Å"The theory of evolution, like the theory of gravity, is a scientific fact†. 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