Ancient DNA Time-Line

The Ancient DNA Time-line shows examples of attempts to extract ancient DNA from specimens ranging in age from 100 years to 125 million years old.

Most attempts to extract ancient DNA from specimens older than 100 000 years have failed. In many cases no DNA was found. In others, the extracted DNA was actually a combination of human and bacterial DNA contamination. The remaining studies have not been independently replicated so their authenticity cannot be confirmed.