2007-02-10 09:03:59 · 4 answers · asked by syrious 5 in Science & Mathematics ➔ Earth Sciences & Geology
It is so unlikely that the answer "Absolutely not" fits here as well as anywhere. First, DNA is an unstable chain of molecules, so it normally doesn't last long after death anyway.... and dinosaurs have not existed for 65 million years. Second, it is unlikely any any material in petroleum derived from dinosaurs. Third, petroleum is very complex and has been greatly altered .
Even in the case of soft tissue from dinosaurs, such as that recovered by Mary Schweitzer, no recognizable DNA remained. The oldest independantly confirmed DNA I am aware of is from a 40 million year old bee preserved in amber. Unfortunately, dinosaurs are not known to have been trapped and encased in the tree sap that fossilized into amber. The Jurassic Park scenario is unrealistic because the stomach acids of a mosquito would destroy the dinosaur DNA even if the insect died immediately after fed.
2007-02-10 11:32:01 · answer #1 · answered by Now and Then Comes a Thought 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Not likely.
The way most ancient DNA are perserved is in ambers.
Amber is formed from tree saps over thousands of years. If a bug or something gets trapped in the sticky sap, its DNA can be possibly perserved for many years. However, dino DNAs are not easily preserved due to their sheer size. The only likely way is if a dino egg is trapped in amber.
However, you still can't easily extract DNA from anything, not even amber. Since only 5% of DNA is actually 'active'. IF a dino is perserved in amber and the amber is discovered. The scientists still will have immense difficulty in opening the amber while perseving the DNA. and IF they are successful in doing that, only a few genes can be saved and analyzed. And those few genes MUST be part of the active 5% or they are worthless.
Hope that helped.
2007-02-10 09:06:54 · answer #2 · answered by kitty s 2 · 0⤊ 1⤋
Dinosaurs did not form any of our pertoleum or coal deposits. The answer is no anyway, because the material has been too changed.
2007-02-10 09:14:28 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
No, petrol is basically a bunch of long chain hydro carbons. Any DNA was long since gone. DNA can be found in amber though.
2007-02-10 09:07:59 · answer #4 · answered by rocke4444 4 · 0⤊ 1⤋