Ancestor's DNA code reconstructed

[Dover]

Ancestor's DNA code reconstructed

Scientists have re-constructed part of the genetic code that would have existed in a common ancestor of placental mammals, including humans.
The creature, thought to be a nocturnal shrew-like animal, lived alongside dinosaurs about 75 million years ago.

The researchers used computer analysis to compare and contrast modern mammal genomes and then modelled a sequence that would have been common to all.

The work is reported in the December issue of the journal Genome Research.

The project was led by David Haussler, a Howard Hughes Medical Institute investigator at the University of California, Santa Cruz, US.

The 'Model T" of mammals

His team says the reconstruction effort is akin to drawing conclusions about the first car by observing the many different kinds of vehicles in use today...cont'd

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/sci/tech/4056559.stm