All Life has DNA

The Profusion of Life.

Every living thing, from the smallest slime mold to the largest whale, begins with DNA, the code of life. This code instructs the creation, development and maintenance of an organism one cell at a time.

Scientists today are studying DNA to discover new things about old species, sometimes with surprising detail. In some cases, information at the DNA level has led to reclassifying wildlife species and developing new conservation strategies. Meanwhile, understanding the DNA of other species helps scientists uncover more about human origins and evolution.

Herring Gull (Larus argentaus)
Scientists use DNA to determine if Herring Gulls exposed to oil spills pass genetic mutations to their offspring.

Chambered nautilus (Nautilus pompilius)
Until recently, scientists thought there were five nautilus species. But DNA sequencing has shown that there are actually only two species. (American Museum of Natural History Research Project)

Coffee tree (Coffea arabica)
Domestic coffee has 44 chromosomes-twice as many as its wild relatives.

Sailfish (Istiophorus platypterus)
Genetic analysis of unlabeled commercial fish filets enables scientists to enforce regulations that protect sailfish, blue marlin and yellow-fin tuna, among other species.

Northern Elephant Seal (Mirounga angustirostrus)
DNA evidence shows that 19th-century hunting reduced the Northern Elephant Seal population to fewer than 20 individuals. Conservation helped this species rebound to 550,000 - 750,000 individuals.

Northern Spotted Owl (Strix occidentalis caurina)
DNA research shows little gene flow among the three spotted owl subspecies - the Northern, Californian and Mexican Spotted Owls. (American Museum of Natural History Research Project)

Nyala (Tragelaphus angasii)
DNA and bone structure analysis showed that the Nyala, an African antelope, is closely related to cows and buffalo. (American Museum of Natural History Research Project)

Striped Skunk (Mephitis mephitis) and Raccoon (Procyon lotor)
Researchers use DNA to track the spread of distinct strains of the rabies virus carried by raccoons and skunks.

Florida Manatee (Trichechus manatus latirostrus)
Genetic studies of Florida Manatees-now nearly extinct-show that they have dangerously low levels of diversity, making them more sensitive to disease and climate change.

Coyote (Canis latrans)
DNA from coyote feces is used to map the movement patterns of these carnivores, which are becoming increasingly common in the Northeast U.S. (American Museum of Natural History Research Project)

Snapdragon (Antirrhinum majus)
By altering snapdragon genes, scientists can create plants with leaves in place of flowers. Such research enhances our understanding of flower development.

Tasmanian Tiger (Thylacinus cynocephalus)
Hunted to extinction by 1934, the Tasmanian Tiger could make a comeback. Some scientists hope to clone cells from a preserved specimen to resurrect this carnivorous marsupial.

Columbian Mammoth (Mammuthus columbi)
Scientists hope that DNA from mammoth bones will yield clues as to whether a human-spread virus wiped out these creatures 5,000 to 10,000 years ago. (American Museum of Natural History Research Project)

Turkey Vulture (Cathartes aura), Golden Eagle (Aquila chrysaetos), Wood Stork (Mycteria americana)
Vultures were classified with eagles and hawks as birds of prey until DNA studies recently showed that they are more closely related to storks.

Cotton (Gossypium hirsutum)
Over 60 percent of the cotton currently grown in the United States - more than nine million acres - is genetically modified to be pest resistant or herbicide tolerant.