Researchers Find Antibiotic Resistance in Ancient DNA
The New York Times article on recent work by the McMaster Ancient DNA Centre on the discovery of antibiotic resistance genes in 30,000-year-old Yukon sediment.
Sep 01, 2011
Author: Nicholas Wade
Media: The New York Times
Date: August 2011
An analysis of 30,000-year-old bacteria whose DNA has been recovered from the Yukon permafrost shows that they were able to resist antibiotics. Antibiotics, before they became used as drugs, were natural products. The new finding is the first direct evidence that antibiotic resistance is a widespread natural phenomenon that preceded the modern medical use of antibiotics.
Researchers Find Antibiotic Resistance in Ancient DNA - The New York Times