Blood found in 46-million-year-old mosquito: The insect, with its visibly extended abdomen, was found trapped in oil shale, a sedimentary rock from an ancient lake-bed in north-western Montana, USA. Mozzies have been annoying humans for centuries, but theyve been sucking blood from other creatures for far longer, close to 50 million years, say scientists, who have ancient blood to prove it. Researchers have found components of red blood cells in a 46-million-year-old fossilised mosquito. While the discovery sounds like the plot of the popular sci-fi novel Jurassic Park – where scientists use DNA extracted from an amber-encased mosquito to revive dinosaurs – the female specimen represents the worlds first fossil of a blood-engorged mosquito. As research has shown DNA cannot survive more than 6.8 million years, no genetic material was recovered. images.smh.au/2013/10/15/4830692/art-mosquito-620x349.jpg
Posted on: Tue, 15 Oct 2013 05:32:20 +0000
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