An assessment of ancient DNA preservation in Holocene–Pleistocene fossil bone excavated from the world heritage Naracoorte Caves, South Australia

A groundbreaking assessment of ancient DNA (aDNA) preservation in Holocene–Pleistocene fossil bones from the UNESCO World Heritage-listed Naracoorte Caves, South Australia, reveals that aDNA can be retrieved from deposits as old as 18,600 years ago. This study provides the first evidence of aDNA preservation at this site, demonstrating its potential for future palaeontological research. Using metabarcoding and shotgun next-generation sequencing, researchers identified highly degraded DNA in bones older than 8,400 years, with rapid degradation rates suggesting minimal chances of obtaining informative sequences from extinct megafaunal bones dating back to around 50,000 years ago. Additionally, the study uncovered new insights into the past faunal biodiversity of Robertson Cave, including previously undocumented families, offering a deeper understanding of southern Australia's faunal turnover.

Grealy, A., Macken, A., Allentoft, M. E., Rawlence, N. J., Reed, E., & Bunce, M. (2016). An assessment of ancient DNA preservation in Holocene–Pleistocene fossil bone excavated from the world heritage Naracoorte Caves, South Australia. Journal of Quaternary Science, 31(1), 33–45. Portico. https://doi.org/10.1002/jqs.2830