The Reverse Evolution Machine

latitude 37.002185, longitude -122.058169

In search of the common ancestor of all mammals, UC Santa Cruz scientist David Haussler is pulling a complete reversal. Instead of studying fossils, he's comparing the genomes of living mammals to construct a map of our common ancestors' DNA. His technique holds promise for providing a better picture of how life evolved.

Duration: 9:03
Original Air Date: Tuesday, Sep 4, 2007
Embed this video
Make a Big Difference With a Small Donation

 

More by Topic: Biology
More by Location: Santa Cruz County

Reverse Evolution Machine Educator Guide

Use this Educator Guide to help your students understand how using the DNA of organisms alive today can help uncover clues to extinct plants and animals.
117b_ReverseEvolutionMachine.pdf (300.9 KB)

 

Email List

Sign up for our weekly QUEST e-newsletter.

QUEST Schedule

  • QUEST TV:

    Tuesdays at 7:30 p.m. on KQED 9 and KQED HD, Comcast 709.

  • QUEST Radio:

    Mondays at 6:30 a.m. & 8:30 a.m. on KQED FM 88.5 and KQEI FM 89.3.

  • The Physics of Baseball/World's Most Powerful Microscope

  • Sat, Jul 4 at 7:00AM, on KQED 9HD
  • Sat, Jul 4 at 9:30AM, on KQED World
  • Sat, Jul 4 at 1:30PM, on KQED World
  • Sat, Jul 4 at 3:00PM, on KTEH
  • Sat, Jul 4 at 7:00PM, on KQED World
  • Sun, Jul 5 at 1:00AM, on KQED World