Up Next
Back to Show
Eons
Can We Get DNA From Fossils?
Season 1
Episode 59
In 1993, scientists cracked open a piece of amber, took out the body of an ancient weevil, and sampled its DNA. Or, at least, so we thought. It took another few decades of research, and a lot of take-backs, before scientists could figure out how we could truly unlock the genetic secrets of the past.
Support Provided By
9:34
We’re taking a look towards the deep future. After all, the story is far from over.
7:59
When did we start practicing medicine in its varied, complex forms?
9:11
For some, the rise of venomous elapid snakes was an almost apocalyptic catastrophe.
12:07
When you only have fossils, how do you know if a dinosaur is female or male?
11:57
What are animal-like fossils doing in rocks a billion years old?
9:41
Paranthropus lived alongside our ancestors. If we are still here, why aren’t they?
8:42
Exoskeleton fragments may have allowed microbes to sail the ocean and change the world.
10:45
Fire only exists only on Earth because fire can’t exist without life.
7:09
Turns out bats didn’t give us butterflies and we should be thanking bees and beans.
8:58
Graptolites show us how unpredictable the Silurian period really could be.
9:05
How can we figure out when we first started wearing clothes?
7:50
From an evolutionary perspective, is bigger always better?