Did they determine this by comparing what DNA fragments they’ve managed to recover, or by physical skeletal structure similarities, or what?

I’m no expert in the field, but I just don’t see it.

  • General_Effort@lemmy.world
    1·
    6 months ago

    Not exactly ancestors, as others have said.

    DNA doesn’t last nearly long enough. Scientists have made great strides in analyzing ancient DNA (aDNA), They have decoded the genomes of Neanderthals and other extinct human species. But that aDNA is only tens of thousands of years old. IIRC the theoretical maximum is something like 1 million years. No chance on dinosaur DNA.

    As to how what evidence there is, I think that’s already sufficiently answered, and better than I could.