Abstract
Researcher ability to accurately screen fossil and sub-fossil specimens
for preservation of DNA and protein sequences remains limited. Thermal
exposure and geologic age are usable proxies for sequence preservation
on a broad scale but are of nominal use for specimens of similar
depositional environments. Cell and tissue molecular histology is thus
proposed as a proxy for determining sequence preservation potential of
ancient specimens with improved accuracy. Molecular histology as a proxy
is hypothesized to elucidate why fossil/sub-fossils of some depositional
environments preserve sequences while others do not and to facilitate
selection of ancient specimens for use in molecular studies.