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Million-year-old DNA found in Antarctic deep-sea sediments

A million-year-old DNA has been found in deep-sea sediments in the Scotia Sea, north of Antarctica, according to a new study initiated by the University of Tasmania in Australia.

Lead researcher Linda Ambrecht from the University of Tasmania said this was the oldest and validated marine sediment DNA ever found. Researchers say they have discovered single-celled organisms called diotoms. The information gathered suggests that about 14,500 years ago, the poles were much warmer than they are today, diatoms were abundant, and marine life was active throughout the Antarctic region. The research has been published in Nature Communications. The researchers believe that it is imperative to learn more about the past, which may help people predict what will happen to marine ecosystems in the future as the ocean warms again.

Sputnik said that sediment DNA (sedaDNA) analysis is a technique for deciphering specific organisms in the ocean and when they existed. Understanding the history of marine life could help predict the future of sea creatures suffering from climate change, researchers say. Antarctica is one of the most vulnerable regions to climate change, making it a research focus for scientists.

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