Hunt for the Oldest DNA chronicles the remarkable journey of Eske Willerslev, a pioneering biologist whose obsession with unlocking the past through ancient DNA led to a groundbreaking discovery. Twenty years ago, Willerslev proposed a radical idea: could DNA survive intact in frozen sediment for millennia? Despite skepticism from the scientific community, his perseverance paid off, culminating in the recovery of DNA from a lush, pre-Ice Age forest ecosystem over two million years old. This stunning breakthrough reshapes our understanding of ancient life, revealing species from the Earth’s last warm epoch. With the ability to reconstruct vanished ecosystems, scientists can now use DNA to explore the deep past—and apply these insights to address modern climate challenges.
Screening: Sunday, May 18th, 10:10-11:35 AM
Length: 84 min
Country: Canada
Language: Danish, English
Director: Handful of Films, NOVA, Tangled Banks Studios
Producer(s): Niobe Thompson
Distributor: PBS International