Isolation of nucleic acids and cultures from fossil ice and permafrost

Owing to their constant low temperatures, glacial ice and permafrost might contain the oldest nucleic acids and microbial cells on Earth, which could prove key to reconstructing past ecosystems and for the planning of missions to other planets. However, recent claims concerning viable cells and micr...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Trends in ecology & evolution (Amsterdam) 2004-03, Vol.19 (3), p.141-147
Main Authors: Willerslev, Eske, Hansen, Anders J., Poinar, Hendrik N.
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Bacteriology
Biological and medical sciences
Earth sciences
Earth, ocean, space
Exact sciences and technology
Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology
Microbiology
Miscellaneous
Paleontology
Paleontology: general
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Summary:Owing to their constant low temperatures, glacial ice and permafrost might contain the oldest nucleic acids and microbial cells on Earth, which could prove key to reconstructing past ecosystems and for the planning of missions to other planets. However, recent claims concerning viable cells and microbial nucleic acids obtained from ice- and permafrost cores from hundreds of thousands to millions of years old are not properly authenticated and the findings could be the result of contamination. Here, we discuss the processes that restrict the long-term survival of DNA and/or RNA molecules in ice and permafrost, and highlight sources of contamination that could result in false claims. Additionally, we present a set of precautions, controls and criteria to help ensure that future cultures and sequences are authentic.
ISSN:0169-5347
1872-8383
DOI:10.1016/j.tree.2003.11.010