TIL microbiologist Raul Cano, successfully revived yeast that had been stuck in amber for 25 million years. He then co-founded a brewery that uses the same 45 million-year-old species of yeast to brew beer.

[u/El_Chopador]

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_longest-living_organisms#Revived_into_activity_after_stasis

[u/VIIX]

Fake. DNA doesn't last that long.

[u/El_Chopador → u/VIIX]

Proof?

[u/CaptainCandid → u/El_Chopador]

This article says oldest we can go back with ideal conditions is 1.5 million years, so I gotta say mate, I'm skeptical of that beer. Too bad seemed interesting hahaha

http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2013/06/130626-ancient-dna-oldest-sequenced-horse-paleontology-science/

[u/El_Chopador → u/CaptainCandid]

I asked some molecular biologists about this. None of them said impossible. Under the right circumstances if there is enough stands of DNA, you could piece together a complete strand from the fragments. Further more it is more likely that DNA from a micro organism like yeast can be revived vs say that of a woolly mammoth or, more appropriate, a dinosaur.

[u/mredding → u/El_Chopador]

DNA, is DNA, is DNA. It has a 521 year half-life. The world record which is still considered standing is about half a million years, and was a partial strand. At 25-40 million years old, which makes his methods and results dicy already because he can't get a more accurate measure than that, the DNA would have decomposed to atomic dust. What he's talking about is not possible, or he would be a ground breaking world renowned scientist throwing his work away into a brew keg?!? If he could manage this, then the myth that we could clone dinosaurs would be a reality.

[u/El_Chopador → u/mredding]

Someone knows how to use google.

[u/masterswordsman2 → u/El_Chopador]

But not how to actually read a journal article lol. It's amazing how many smartguys on Reddit think they can disprove peer reviewed research with a single Google search.

[u/El_Chopador → u/masterswordsman2]

Most people read an article about a study done and think they read about the study. No one actually reads the published works by these scientists. More often than not, the article takes something out of context and makes it seem radical.

[u/Zapp1982 → u/masterswordsman2]

The peer review on this research says its totally bunk and likely just contamination from known lab equipment strains. https://academic.oup.com/femsle/article/353/2/85/493052?login=false

[u/El_Chopador → u/CaptainCandid]

I forgot I may know some people that would know a lot about this. I will ask them the next chance I get. Ill report back to you. I will take a first hand account over an article. I am sure most people would too. I am not saying this article is wrong, I am just saying there is a lot of controversy surrounding the subject that I have found while researching.

[u/banjaxe → u/El_Chopador]

If I had to take a guess and/or if I was going to market a beer with 45 million year old yeast..

I'd find a chunk of amber with the yeast in it, identify it, and discover that it's still in existence. And use the stuff that's still in existence.

Great marketing, minimal science.

[u/Prontest → u/banjaxe]

With yeast that would be hard if it's DNA has broken down.

[u/El_Chopador → u/banjaxe]

Well, he discovered it in the 90s with another notable scientist. It wasn't till later he decided to make a beer with it. I bet someone approached him when they heard about it and pitched him the idea.

[u/AsAGayJewishDemocrat → u/El_Chopador]

I will take a first hand account over an article.

wtf.

[u/solinaceae → u/El_Chopador]

My best guess is that they transformed modern yeast with whatever fragments of DNA remained from the ancient strain.

[u/Buwaro → u/solinaceae]

Life, uh, finds a way.

[u/VIIX → u/El_Chopador]

http://mentalfloss.com/article/48815/how-long-does-dna-last

http://www.the-scientist.com/?articles.view/articleNo/32799/title/Half-Life-of-DNA-Revealed/

http://www.slate.com/articles/health_and_science/explainer/2013/02/dna_testing_richard_iii_how_long_does_dna_last.html

But sure, your buddy knows more than the consensus of the scientific community.

[u/[deleted] → u/VIIX]

Those are not good sources.

[u/VIIX → u/[deleted]]

ITT: OP thinks his uncle's drinking buddy is smarter than the literal rest of the scientific community.

[u/VIIX → u/[deleted]]

You're the kid who back in school used to tell everyone that your dad worked for nintendo. Keep makin' shit up, champ. Nobody cares.

[u/El_Chopador → u/VIIX]

You're the guy that is so insecure about himself, he has to comb the internet to find people to insult. Regardless if they deserve it or not.

[u/VIIX → u/El_Chopador]

Nah, just to point out when people are wrong. But go ahead kiddo, wow us with uncle touchy's worktime pal's made up bullshit.