Ancient DNA from Greenland reveals ecosystem from 2 million years ago

Scientists have successfully decoded ancient environmental DNA (eDNA) from sediments in Kap København, northern Greenland, dating back approximately 2 million years. This discovery represents the oldest successfully decoded environmental DNA known at the time of publication, surpassing the previous record held by mammoth DNA, which was roughly 1.2 million years old.

Unlike traditional findings derived from intact bones, these genetic traces were recovered from microscopic fragments preserved in frozen soil. The analysis reveals that 2 million years ago, Greenland was not the harsh, icy landscape seen today, but rather a lush boreal forest ecosystem.

Genetic markers identified a variety of flora, including poplar, birch, and northern cedar, alongside shrubs and herbs. The animal life present included hares, reindeer, rodents, geese, and mastodons—extinct relatives of elephants. The presence of marine organism traces further suggests a significantly warmer climate than modern Greenland.