Biology Question #2438

NIKHIL BHANSALI, a 20 year old male from New Delhi asks on December 14, 2004,

I have an e-DNA (environmental DNA) sample in a vial. How can I learn if the given e-DNA sample is from a living species or a dead species or from some ancient extinct species? The sample consists of DNA from various microorganisms.

viewed 13337 times

The answer

Barry Shell answered on December 17, 2004

DNA is just a molecule. A chemical. It is not alive. DNA is a long chain of deoxyribose sugars. Each of the sugars has one of four types of amino groups. So any particular DNA molecule has a pattern which arises due to the order of these amino groups along the chain. This pattern can be compared and sometimes matched to patterns found in DNA collected from various organisms, both living and dead, and sometimes extinct--if you can find a sample of the extinct organism's DNA somehow. You have to make the match to tell.

Your question cannot be answered generally. The answer is: it depends.

You cannot tell simply by looking at a DNA molecule where it comes from. You have to *match* its pattern with a known pattern. If you have the DNA pattern of the dead thing, or the living thing, or the extinct thing, then you can take the DNA you have and compare its pattern to see if you have a match. If you have a mixture of DNA it will be difficult to tell with certainty which organisms it matches. Perhaps you might get a sort of statistical probability of a match to a broad mixture of microorganisms.

Add to or comment on this answer using the form below.

Note: All submissions are moderated prior to posting.
