Word: amber
(lookup in dictionary)
(lookup stats)
Dates: all
Sort By: most recent first
(reverse)
Gradually an exciting hypothesis took shape. "I began to wonder," says Cano, "if I was not awakening ancient organisms that had been entombed in amber for millions of years." He knew scientists had revived hardy bacterial spores that were hundreds of years old, but they were youngsters compared with his alleged ancients...
...right, the secret may be amber. This semiprecious substance, observes Ward Wheeler, a molecular evolutionist at the American Museum of Natural History in New York City, provides a unique window on the history of life. Down through the ages, sudden flows of sticky, honey-colored tree resin have ensnared all manner of small life forms, including beetles, spiders, and even lizards and frogs. Moreover, as this natural polymer hardens, it becomes virtually airtight and waterproof. Not only are extinct organisms like Cano's bee preserved in exquisite anatomical detail, but biological molecules such as dna appear to be largely protected...
...while amber seems to retard biochemical degradation, it does not prevent it entirely. "As remarkable as amber is," says David Grimaldi, a colleague of Wheeler's. "the DNA it contains is fragmented, which makes it astounding that viable spores could still be completely intact." And that is one reason why many scientists remain dubious about Cano's claims. Another ground for caution is the history of laboratory contamination that has haunted researchers working on ancient DNA. Though Cano took every precaution, laboratory samples can pick up extraneous material as easily as a jacket collects lint. Last year a team...
Right or wrong, Cano's startling experiment could touch off an amber rush as scientists and companies alike try to get their hands on nuggets of the golden polymer. The leader of the pack is Ambergene, which has spent the past two years "mining" ancient amber from 15 locations around the globe, from Burma to the Baltic Sea. Already, says president and co-founder Robin Steele, Ambergene scientists have identified filamentous fungi similar to those that have produced a distinguished line of antibiotics. They have also brewed batches of ale with ancient yeast. Beer buff Cano was named official taster...
...that nature is packed with all sorts of creatures that have changed little from ancient times. For that reason, some of Ambergene's potential competitors view the company's business strategy as something of a gimmick. There's hardly any need to prospect for ancient life forms in amber, says David Miller, vice president of research and development at EcoScience, based in Worcester, Massachusetts. Microbes that trace their roots back millions of years exist all over the place, even in suburban backyards. Moreover, as a source for discovering new, more effective drugs, amber is by no means a sure thing...