DNA dating back up to 50,000 years has been found in Africa
For the first time, scientists have succeeded in extracting ancient DNA, dating back as far as 50,000 years, from animal remains found in South Africa. Until now, it was thought that the hot climate left virtually no chance of genetic material being preserved for such a long period of time.
The discovery sets a record for sub-Saharan Africa and shows that ancient DNA can be preserved for much longer than researchers had previously thought.
The study has been published in the journal *Quaternary Science Reviews*.
How the scientists managed to find ancient DNA
The researchers examined 320 bones and teeth from wild bovid animals — relatives of modern antelopes, buffalo and other ungulates. The remains were found in six caves and rock shelters on the southern coast of South Africa and spanned a period of up to 110,000 years.
To search for DNA, the scientists examined 144 of the most promising samples. Instead of the usual method, they used a technique that allows even very short and heavily damaged DNA fragments to be extracted.
As a result, genetic material was successfully extracted from 65 samples — in almost half of the cases.
The most valuable finds were four ancient specimens dating from 12,000 to approximately 50,000 years ago, including the teeth of an extinct long-horned buffalo and a mountain antelope.
Why this is important
Most ancient DNA known today has been obtained from cold regions, where freezing temperatures slow down the degradation of genetic material. It was therefore thought that hot Africa was virtually unsuitable for such research.
The new study shows that this is not always the case. Scientists now hope to reconstruct the history of Africa’s ancient animals in much greater detail and to better understand how the continent’s ecosystems changed tens of thousands of years ago.
The authors emphasise that the discovery also opens up opportunities for new research into ancient DNA in warmer regions of the world.
Background
Until now, the genome of an extinct blue antelope, dating back some 9,300 years, was considered the oldest wild animal genome from South Africa. The new study has pushed this age limit for the region back by almost five times.
Source
Study: Evaluation of DNA and collagen preservation in Late Pleistocene and Holocene bovid fossils from South Africa.
Journal: Quaternary Science Reviews (2026).