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Unfortunately DNA doesn't last that long. We'd need samples from something like ~200 million years ago, but DNA only survives about 1 million year even under th
by matt_kantor 7y ago
Unfortunately DNA doesn't last that long. We'd need samples from something like ~200 million years ago, but DNA only survives about 1 million year even under the best conditions.
EDIT: Unless you were talking about comparing DNA from living species. The closest living relative to birds is crocodilians, but they're pretty distant from one another and might not be useful for the kind of analysis you suggested.
- JoeAltmaier 7y agoYes this type of analysis is usually done on existing branches of life. With some evidence in the fossil record of when those forms diverged, a before-and-after picture can be formed?
- flukus 7y agoTo the best of my knowledge we don't have any non-avian Dinosaur descendants to compare with.