The Dissenter cover image

#917 Dale Greenwalt - Remnants of Ancient Life: The New Science of Old Fossils

The Dissenter

00:00

Unraveling the Mystery of Ancient Biomolecule Preservation

Exploring the surprising robustness of ancient DNA and proteins, this chapter delves into breakthroughs in protein preservation and the diverse mechanisms that protect biomolecules within fossils. It showcases the use of artificial intelligence to reconstruct ancient sequences and discusses unique preservation conditions like the fossilized blood-engorged mosquito embedded in cyanobacteria. The chapter also touches on non-destructive methods like energy dispersive spectroscopy and secondary ion mass spectrometry used by paleobiologists in studying ancient biomolecules.

Transcript
Play full episode

The AI-powered Podcast Player

Save insights by tapping your headphones, chat with episodes, discover the best highlights - and more!
App store bannerPlay store banner
Get the app