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Possible 25 Million Year Old Frog Found
dispatch writes "A small frog, found preserved in amber, has been found by researchers in Mexico City. The frog, according to the scientists, may be some 25 million years old! According to the article: 'The chunk of amber containing the 0.4-inch frog was uncovered by a miner in southern Chiapas states in 2005 and was bought by a private collector, who lent it to scientists for study.' Unfortunately, it doesn't seem as though the scientists will be allowed to drill into the rock, at the owner's request."
There are a lot of interesting non-invasive techniques that can be used to analyze the frog for now. Sure no DNA but the frog has made it 25 million years, I'm sure the DNA isn't going to get much worse in the next thousand years or so.
Right now DNA technology is in its infancy. Eventually someone who inherits or buys the frog will let the more advanced DNA technology of the day at the frog and we will find out about it then.
Nothing is being lost we just need a bit of patience.
If you liked this thought maybe you would find my blog nice too:
... it turns out he made it himself and don't want anyone to know it? Faking amber with animals in it is about the third oldest scam in the book.
I can just see the ad line "Collectors item - pristine 25 Million year old frog, certified by the @@@@ Lab". From the looks of it, the collector got a bunch of scientists to do the marketing for him. Now that the interest will get built up, the value will go up. Also, he makes sure that there is enough value for the next buyer as well by ensuring they don't drill it up now.