Page 16

• Language: unknown
• Subjects: Greenland
• Online Access: http://cdm16250.contentdm.oclc.org/cdm/ref/collection/p16250coll9/id/319

a shark? The results were astounding (4, 19, 28) the team used six different methods to extract DNA from a Tiger shark’s jaw for temporal genomic studies, and all methods resulted in great success. Next, they ran similar tests with white shark jaws from a trophy hunt in 1912 which yielded a significant amount of DNA. The conclusions were that the age of the sample did nothing to deter adequate findings, nearly all samples even those that where 100 years old. The team therefore concluded that archived shark samples as well as fresh ones can be used for genomic or genetic testing and also allowing shark scientists to expand elasmobranchs DNA yield (19). We can conclude from this that by studying DNA samples from ancient and living sharks we can learn more of their genetic makeup and even go so far as to replicate their impressive immune capabilities (13, 19). This gives scientists means to determine the longevity of ancient species of sharks, and by doing so they can compare the life longevity of modern and prehistoric species. However, new information discovered by lead scientist marine Biologist Julius Nielsen from the University of Copenhagen used carbon dating to determine the age of a specific female Greenland shark as well as 28 other individuals, and the results where incredible. The idea to resort to carbon dating came because the band theory proved useless since the specimen’s vertebrae had no rings to measure. Taking a leaf out of archeology’s book, the team decided to give carbon dating a try; this would only be applicable to fresh specimens, though, because without a fresh sample there is no true way to determine age as a result of bone structure—or lack thereof. Since carbon dating is the process of extracting DNA from fossilized material, the issue with carbon dating ancient sharks is that they do not have any fossilized bones to date. Apart from their teeth, the cartilage skeleton will completely brake down over time. A beautiful 16 | P a g e