The original post: /r/iama by /u/SpaceElevatorMusic on 2024-04-29 13:06:05.

Original Title: Inside the hunt for the world’s oldest DNA | AMA with Dr. Mikkel Pedersen, a geneticist who studies DNA extracted from soil and has discovered 2-million-year-old DNA, the oldest to date (crosspost r/askscience)

Direct link to the AMA: https://www.reddit.com/r/askscience/comments/1cfw8l9/askscience_ama_series_inside_the_hunt_for_the/

AMA description:

Hi, my name is Dr. Mikkel Pedersen, I am a geneticist and an assistant professor at the University of Copenhagen, Denmark. I was in the NOVA documentary “Hunt for the Oldest DNA.” I focus on how we can study animals and plants from the past using DNA extracted from thousands, even millions of years-old soil. In the film, I was the scientist that helped discover the 2-million-year-old DNA, the oldest to date.

My research areas include environments of the past, ancient DNA, environmental DNA and their community compositions.

In this Reddit AMA, ask me questions about the ancient DNA, the oldest DNA ever found, the environment, and how ancient DNA from million-year-old soils can tell us about the deep past. Write a question and I’ll comment with an answer! See you on today at 2pm EDT (18 UT)!