1992/10/15 by Dianne N. Janczewski, Naoya Yuhki, Dennis A. Gilbert +2 · 7 citations
Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology · #Identification and Quantification in Food #Genetic diversity and population structure #Genomics and Phylogenetic Studies #Phylogenetic tree #Biology #Mitochondrial DNA #Phylogenetics #Ancient DNA #Zoology #Gene #Evolutionary biology #Genetics #Population
paper · doi:10.1073/pnas.89.20.9769
openalex publication_date 1992/10/15 · openalex created_date 2025/10/10 · openalex updated_date 2026/08/01
A method for the successful extraction of sequestered cellular DNA from 14,000-year-old fossil bones was developed and applied to asphalt-preserved specimens of the extinct saber-toothed cat, Smilodon fatalis. Two distinct gene segments, the mitochondrial gene for 12S rRNA and nuclear FLA-I (the feline class I major histocompatibility complex gene), from three different individual fossil specimens were cloned and sequenced after PCR amplification. Comparison of fossil-derived DNA sequences to homologous regions in 15 living carnivorous species, including 9 species of Felidae and 6 nonfelids, affirmed the phylogenetic placement of Smilodon within the modern radiation of Felidae distinct from the Miocene paleofelid (Nimravidae) saber-toothed "cat" species. These results raise the prospect of obtaining genetically informative DNA from preserved bones of extinct fossil species, particularly among the 2 million specimens excavated from the asphaltic sediments at Rancho La Brea in metropolitan Los Angeles.