Ancient DNA extracted from cave dirt

When they’re trying to piece together our understanding of ancient Humans and Neanderthals, scientists often have to rely on artifacts found in caves - old tools, or animal bones that show signs that they were butchered. What scientists wish they had more of was ancient DNA, which would allow them to study how the populations of these groups changed and expanded over time. Now, thanks to Benjamin Vernot at the Max Planck Institute for Evolutionary Anthropology, maybe that dream’s about to come true, as he explains to Eva Higginbotham....