The samples collected by scientists are known as sedaDNA. The study related to this has been published in Nature Communications magazine.
DNA from ancient microorganisms has been discovered under the sea floor in Antarctica. Some of this DNA dates back to about 1 million years ago. A new study has revealed that this is the oldest DNA ever discovered from seafloor sediments. The special thing is that the scientists had collected the samples by mistake, that is, they had no idea that a big discovery would come to light after examining them. The samples collected by scientists are known as sedaDNA. The study related to this has been published in Nature Communications magazine. SedaDNA samples have been analyzed in this. According to the report
of Live Science , the team of researchers looked closely at the damage patterns inside the DNA fragments to find out how old they were. The oldest fragments are about 1 million years old. Scientists are not sure which species the oldest SedaDNA belongs to. They are said to be related to eukaryote. However, most of the samples are related to diatoms. It is a type of phytoplankton, which is still present in the world’s oceans. These samples were taken from the Scotia Sea in Antarctica. Linda Armbrecht, a researcher at the Institute for Marine and Antarctic Studies at the University of Tasmania in Australia and lead author of the study, said in a statement that the fragments are the oldest confirmed marine cetacean DNA discovered to date. He said that due to low temperature, low oxygen concentration and absence of UV radiation, the samples are very well preserved. Ancient DNA sheds light on how climate change could affect the region’s ecosystem. Antarctica is considered the most sensitive area in the world. Antarctica, home to huge glaciers, is melting faster than expected. Recently, a report revealed that the coastal glaciers of Antarctica are rapidly shedding icebergs. The rapid melting of the ice has doubled previous estimates of losses from the melting of the world’s largest ice sheet over the past 25 years. Many studies have shown that climate change is rapidly weakening the huge blocks of floating ice in Antarctica and causing a tremendous rise in sea levels.
