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    Photo courtesy of PLOS ONE
    Science

    Scientists Extract Insect DNA from Tree Sap- No Way This Could Possibly Go Wrong

    Mary Anne ButlerBy Updated:1 Min Read

    You know that thing in zombie movies where it’s like the genre doesn’t exist within that particular film’s world? Like they don’t know the warning signs of the undead rising, or how to go for the head? It’s kind of like these scientists- who have successfully extracted insect DNA from tree resin. Now where have we heard that idea before?

    You can read all about the study and subsequent findings on Journal PLOS ONE here (which really is fascinating, no matter how many jokes we make about it), and the contributing authors here.

    Photo courtesy of PLOS ONE

    The gist of this particular extraction was to try to determine just how long (and if it was actually possible) the DNA of insects enclosed in resinous materials can be preserved.

    Very fragile DNA was still preserved in the samples, actually.

    Which means that step one of Michael Crichton‘s science fiction horror story is complete?

    No one tell Elon Musk, ok? He’s already well into James Bond villain territory.

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    Mary Anne Butler (Mab) has been part of the fast-paced world of journalism since she was 15, getting her start in album reviews and live concert coverage for a nationally published (print) music magazine. She eventually transitioned to online media, writing for such sites as UGO/IGN, ComicsOnline, Geek Magazine, Ace of Geeks, Aggressive Comix (where she is still Editor-in-Chief), Bleeding Cool (where she was News Editor), and now Nerdbot as Editor-In-Chief. Over the past 10 years, she’s built a reputation at conventions across the globe as a cosplayer (occasionally), photographer (constantly), panelist and moderator (mostly), and reporter (always). Interviews, reviews, observations, breaking news, and objective reporting are the name of the game for the founder of Harkonnen Knife Fight, a Dune-themed band with an international presence. Though she be but little, she is fierce.

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