Polar bears prove to be new kids on block
Source: Agencies |
March 3, 2010, Wednesday
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Print Edition
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A FOSSIL jaw found in Norway's Svalbard archipelago is helping researchers confirm that polar bears evolved from brown bears "only" about 150,000 years ago.
Polar bears live much of the year on the Arctic sea ice and have become a symbol of the threat of global warming, which is melting that ice.
"Our results confirm that the polar bear is an evolutionarily young species that split off from brown bears some 150,000 years ago and evolved extremely rapidly," said Charlotte Lindqvist, an assistant professor in the University of Buffalo's department of biological sciences.
Lindqvist and colleagues were able to analyze DNA from the fossil and report their findings in yesterday's edition of Proceedings of the National Academy of Science.
Scientists knew polar bears descended from brown bears, but not when they did.
By comparing DNA from the fossil, estimated at up to 130,000 years old, to DNA from modern polar and brown bears they were able to calculate when they separated.
Polar bear fossils are rare since their remains are usually scavenged by other animals or sink in the ocean.
Polar bears live much of the year on the Arctic sea ice and have become a symbol of the threat of global warming, which is melting that ice.
"Our results confirm that the polar bear is an evolutionarily young species that split off from brown bears some 150,000 years ago and evolved extremely rapidly," said Charlotte Lindqvist, an assistant professor in the University of Buffalo's department of biological sciences.
Lindqvist and colleagues were able to analyze DNA from the fossil and report their findings in yesterday's edition of Proceedings of the National Academy of Science.
Scientists knew polar bears descended from brown bears, but not when they did.
By comparing DNA from the fossil, estimated at up to 130,000 years old, to DNA from modern polar and brown bears they were able to calculate when they separated.
Polar bear fossils are rare since their remains are usually scavenged by other animals or sink in the ocean.
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