A real-life Jurassic Park for extinct creatures has moved a step closer after scientists extracted DNA from the fossilised eggshells of birds
Genetic material was pinpointed for the giant moa and 10ft tall, half tonne elephant birds that died out hundreds of years ago.
Researchers said the successful recovery of ancient DNA from eggshell ‘has major implications in the fields of archaeology and palaeontology.’
Biologist Charlotte Oskam and colleagues at Murdoch University in Perth, Australia, said eggshell is a resilient membrane that is frequently found in fossil deposits around the world.
But their study published in Proceedings of the Royal Society B: Biological Sciences is the first to discover DNA can be extracted from the eggshells.
The researchers used a state-of-the-art laser technique to highlight DNA ‘hotspots’ under the microscope using fluorescent green dye.
They said: ‘We show that genetic material is preserved in the eggshell matrix and have successfully imaged the DNA via microscopy.
‘Using new techniques we obtain DNA signatures from a variety of fossil eggshells, including the extinct moa and elephant birds and 19,000-year-old old emu.’
At 10ft tall and weighing 1,000lbs, the elephant bird – related to ostriches and emus – is the largest bird ever to have lived.
It had massive legs, taloned claws and a long, powerful neck. Its body was covered in bristling, hair-like feathers, like those of the emu, and its beak resembled a broad-headed spear.
The elephant bird evolved at a time when birds ruled the earth and probably existed on Madagascar for 60 million years until dying out in the 17th century.
In spite of its fearsome appearance it was a herbivore, and only ate plants.
The moa was another flightless giant bird that lived in New Zealand until it was hunted to extinction in the 18th century.
Emus are the world’s second largest living bird and have survived 80 million years in Australia where they are found in the deserts, forests and on the plains.
Ms Oskam and colleagues said: ‘Ancient DNA was successfully characterised from eggshell obtained from New Zealand, Madagascar and Australia. Our data demonstrate excellent preservation.’
Bird eggshell is resilient and acts as a barrier to oxygen and water – the key causes of DNA damage.
The researchers added: ‘This study provides the first evidence that ancient DNA is preserved in fossil avian eggshell.
‘Clearly, biomolecules preserved in the matrix of historic and fossil eggshell represent a previously unrecognised and untapped source of DNA, the characterisation of which will assist in a range of archaeological, palaeontological, conservation and forensic applications.’
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