Biomolecular Histology as a Novel Proxy for Ancient DNA and Protein
Sequence Preservation
Abstract
Researcher ability to accurately screen fossil and sub-fossil specimens
for preservation of DNA and protein sequences remains limited. Thermal
exposure and geologic age are usable proxies for sequence preservation
on a broad scale but are of limited use for specimens of similar
depositional environments and/or ages. Cell and tissue biomolecular
histology is thus proposed as a proxy for determining sequence
preservation potential of ancient specimens with improved accuracy. Biomolecular histology as a proxy is hypothesized to elucidate why
fossil/sub-fossils of some depositional environments and or geologic
ages preserve sequences while others do not and to facilitate selection
of ancient specimens for use in molecular studies.