The world’s oldest marine DNA has been found in Antarctica

Scientists have discovered the world’s oldest marine DNA in Antarctica.

This finding could be the “key” to understanding how life in the oceans evolved over the past million years as it offers clues about how ocean ecosystems are affected by long-term climate change.

This is important because Antarctica is one of the areas on Earth most affected by global warming.

Fragments of organic material have been found under the seabed of Scotland, north of Antarctica by an international team of researchers led by the University of Tasmania in Australia.

Referred to by the technical term sedaDNA – sedimentary ancient DNA – its recovered samples are likely to help scientists understand how climate change could affect Antarctica in the future.

“It includes by far the oldest certified marine sedaDNA to date,” said Dr Linda Armbrecht, the lead researcher from the University of Tasmania.

SedaDNA is found in many environments, including terrestrial caves and sub-Arctic permafrost, where the material dates back up to 650,000 years.

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