Molecular Palaeontology

Ben Waggoner, University of Central Arkansas, Comway, Arkansas, USA

Published online: April 2001

DOI: 10.1038/npg.els.0001627

The traces that organisms of the past have left are not restricted to their bones, shells, imprints, and tracks; biogenic macromolecules may also survive in the fossil record. As techniques for studying fossil macromolecules have expanded, information from molecules has complemented and expanded our knowledge of the history of life as derived from other types of fossils.

Keywords: amino acids; fossil DNA; amber; biomarkers; kerogen

Figure 1. The sedimentary diagenesis of two molecular fossils, a typical bacterial hopane and a typical eukaryotic sterane.
Figure 2. Formulae of oleanane, a biomarker associated with flowering plants, and a labdane (communic acid) found in gymnosperm resins.
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    Poinar GO Jr (1999) Ancient DNA. American Scientist 87: 446–457.

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Fossils and Evolution | Molecular Evolution
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Article Title: Molecular Palaeontology
 
How to Cite close
Waggoner, Ben(Apr 2001) Molecular Palaeontology. In: eLS. John Wiley & Sons Ltd, Chichester. http://www.els.net [doi: 10.1038/npg.els.0001627]