Ostrich fossils 25,000 years old found
Q. Indian researchers have found molecular evidence of the presence of which species more than 25,000 years ago?- Published on 14 Mar 17a. Ostrich
b. Eagle
c. Kite
d. Peacock
ANSWER: Ostrich
Indian researchers have found molecular evidence confirming the presence of ostrich in India more than 25,000 years ago.
This evidence was unearthed during the DNA analysis of a fossilized eggshell fragment of ostrich.
Researchers found 92% genetic similarity between fossil eggshell samples and Struithio camelus, a species of ostrich found in Africa.
This is the first time that molecular evidence indicating the presence of ostrich in India was found in the eggshell fragments.
In total 11 fossilised eggshell samples from 8 archaeological sites in Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh and Gujarat were studied.
The DNA was isolated from five samples and a tiny portion of a highly conserved mitochondrial region was enlarged and then sequenced from one of the samples.
The other four samples had less than 30 base pairs and so, were not included in the study.
This is the first time that a long-term DNA preservation in fossil eggshell collected from tropical environments has been studied in India.
