Ancient DNA
Okay kiddo, have you ever seen a dinosaur skeleton in a museum? Well, scientists can learn even more about these creatures by studying their ancient DNA.
DNA is like the instruction manual for all living things. It tells cells how to grow and function. And just like how you inherit traits from your parents, DNA gets passed down from generation to generation.
Now imagine if we could travel back in time and get a piece of that dinosaur's DNA. Scientists have found ways to extract and study ancient DNA from bones, teeth, and even poo that's thousands of years old!
But because the DNA is so old, it can be broken and damaged, so scientists have to be very careful when studying it. They use special techniques to amplify or make more copies of the DNA so they can analyze it better.
Studying ancient DNA can help us learn more about how these creatures evolved, what they ate, and even how they interacted with their environment. It's like a time machine that helps us understand the past better!
DNA is like the instruction manual for all living things. It tells cells how to grow and function. And just like how you inherit traits from your parents, DNA gets passed down from generation to generation.
Now imagine if we could travel back in time and get a piece of that dinosaur's DNA. Scientists have found ways to extract and study ancient DNA from bones, teeth, and even poo that's thousands of years old!
But because the DNA is so old, it can be broken and damaged, so scientists have to be very careful when studying it. They use special techniques to amplify or make more copies of the DNA so they can analyze it better.
Studying ancient DNA can help us learn more about how these creatures evolved, what they ate, and even how they interacted with their environment. It's like a time machine that helps us understand the past better!