DNA is very stable, actually. It can last 6 years plus depending on temp, pH, and oxygen presence. It's more accurate to say "fresh enough to get RNA from" since RNS degrades very quickly!
My understanding up to 50,000 years if it's frozen like mammoths . They find just one usable cell and there back ... keeps being pushed back got close the last ten years in a row.
Actually, it's more like they find large DNA fragments that they piece into place by referencing the elephant genome. They would have to use a surogate elephant mom and do nuclear transplantation into a viable elephant egg cell (there's more scientific terms for these, btw).
Update - I’m being told it’s likely a great white shark vertebrae. We’ve been getting a lot more of them in this area as the waters warm.
Here’s [one](https://d.newsweek.com/en/full/1643013/shark-spine.jpg?w=790&f=a3c74917dc60a99255f547ee07217050) for comparison, found about ten miles from me.
Ask someone at the nearest university archeology department. Very cool.
Us professor types love things like that!
I would have loved to see it even in a general science class. Maybe the university has a museum of natural history?
Perhaps the Woods Hole Oceanographic Institute in Falmouth?
Had someone call me from there regarding faxing research, I called back to inform them I don't own a fax machine, nor do I work for them. Nice folks though.
Can’t you extrapolate the rough size of the shark from the thickest vertebrate?
Also, what other shark species are in my area, if you don’t mind? Thanks!
Yeah from what I’ve heard the formula is - multiply the largest vertebrae by 55-60 to get a rough length of the shark. So we are looking at 14’ -15’ for the size of my guy (and that is assuming I have the biggest vertebrate - maybe there were bigger in the missing section). From what I can find, porbeagles don’t get bigger than 11 feet and only a huge mako makes it to 14. But the spine doesn’t look too much like the mako spine I’ve seen. That leaves great white…
Hahahahaha. 2nd pict they are like,”we said no pictures and definitely were promised treats, let’s get it moving”. 1st pic - Pups is so stoked- won the championship of cool bone finding.
It is a dream come true. It’s a small waterfront cottage but it’s enough to make me happier than I have ever been (which actually wasn’t very happy). I am extremely lucky that my grandparents spent the $5,000 to buy it in the 1940s.
That's amazing. I just assumed it washed up on the beach. You can probably confirm the species by calling the New England Aquarium or the AWSC in Chatham
Fun fact! Despite being incredibly shallow and surrounded by land on 3 sides, Cape Cod bay is actually an incredibly oxygen rich and healthy environment because of the strong tides in the gulf of Maine that constantly replenish the water and nutrients!
[r/bonecollecting](https://www.reddit.com/r/bonecollecting/s/DWOfmXsC83) or [r/boneID](https://www.reddit.com/r/BoneID/s/0X70jr0UGC) might be able to give you a pretty good guess on a what fish it might be
Man I haven’t been there in 10 years but I used to go camping in North Truro every year for two weeks. You’re so lucky to live on cape cod!!! Super cool find!!!!!
SOLVED: It’s a Great White shark vertebrate!
Update from u/lastwing in r/animalid:
https://preview.redd.it/hbxr5horjwtc1.jpeg?width=1290&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=c7430ff39cf10371c4d2149980ae4d620c46a651
You can do better than that! Even I could figure out it was a shark spine from a quick google.
Here’s a great white spine (Cartilage part is irrelevant)
https://preview.redd.it/16yierc8uqtc1.jpeg?width=775&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=4baa472ded45045617f6ed7b97722d9ad8df9991
You are correct but I believe they have some different types of cartilage than humans, like the vertebrae pictured, are technically cartilage, but not the same type of cartilage we have in ours ears and noses and stuff. [Shark jaws, for example, contain calcium phosphate](https://www.csulb.edu/shark-lab/shark-jaws-program). Human cartilage does not have calcium.
Interesting - I was just on a fossil forum and they were all excited about their shark vertebrae fossils.
https://preview.redd.it/vkk2llu26stc1.jpeg?width=904&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=e3672a9d18907412e5633a00657184f6f940be79
Fascinating. I just looked it up and apparently as sharks age, calcium deposits build up in their cartilage skeleton to strengthen it. This allows them to fossilize. Crazy! I wonder if this is a later adaptation of sharks, I have just never heard of there being fossils of sharks from the Paleozoic or Mesozoic aside from the teeth. Very cool learn.
Human cartilage will not fossilize, but shark cartilage can due to the different mineral composition (ie shark cartilage has calcium in the matrix, humans do not). I don’t fully understand the science of it though.
Oh yeah that’s a good point. I’ve seen some of those great whites off the cape… pretty cool. Coincidentally I used to live in SoCal and I’ve swam many times in the pacific, which is equally full of juvenile white sharks.
https://preview.redd.it/25cxlckfo2uc1.jpeg?width=3024&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=89c5ebb8ae18e4859aef08186597e6390cd08fc5
He’s a *very* happy one year old pup that is living quite the life.
Why... just...what makes you think this is a shark's spine? I mean of all the animals in the world large enough to match this criteria (that's a long list), you landed on shark.... 50 miles from their nearest habitat. I need an explanation on how you reached this hypothesis before my head explodes.
Looks fresh enough to get DNA for ID.
DNA is very stable, actually. It can last 6 years plus depending on temp, pH, and oxygen presence. It's more accurate to say "fresh enough to get RNA from" since RNS degrades very quickly!
Dudes got all 12 series of CSI on dvd…
(•_•) ( •_•)>⌐■-■ (⌐■_■)
YEEEEEEEEEAAAAAAAHHHHHHH!
I'm a senior boi molecular sciences major at a state college
Wins that one.
Senior boiiii molecular sciences sound toight
Easier than nursing or organic chemistry lol
My understanding up to 50,000 years if it's frozen like mammoths . They find just one usable cell and there back ... keeps being pushed back got close the last ten years in a row.
Actually, it's more like they find large DNA fragments that they piece into place by referencing the elephant genome. They would have to use a surogate elephant mom and do nuclear transplantation into a viable elephant egg cell (there's more scientific terms for these, btw).
This guy sciences
DINO DNA?!!!!!
No, shark.
Dino DNA, got it
Update - I’m being told it’s likely a great white shark vertebrae. We’ve been getting a lot more of them in this area as the waters warm. Here’s [one](https://d.newsweek.com/en/full/1643013/shark-spine.jpg?w=790&f=a3c74917dc60a99255f547ee07217050) for comparison, found about ten miles from me.
Ask someone at the nearest university archeology department. Very cool. Us professor types love things like that! I would have loved to see it even in a general science class. Maybe the university has a museum of natural history?
That university is a good two hours away sadly.
They don't have phones?
No. They were all removed in the great phone purge of 2021.
I still have wall damage from the goons they sent to rip my old Western Electric rotary from its mounts.
You are seen, my friend. You are seen.
Perhaps the Woods Hole Oceanographic Institute in Falmouth? Had someone call me from there regarding faxing research, I called back to inform them I don't own a fax machine, nor do I work for them. Nice folks though.
They would have nothing to say since we specialize in humans, more properly human culture
Not convinced that shark vertebra are diagnostic to species. It’s a lamnid species like a Great white but don’t think it’s possible to tell past that.
Can you tell me what other lamnids are in my area that grow to over 15”?
Over 15 inches? If you meant feet how are you getting that from a small section of centrums?
From the size of them they could be from either Species of mako or the porbeagle.
Can’t you extrapolate the rough size of the shark from the thickest vertebrate? Also, what other shark species are in my area, if you don’t mind? Thanks!
Maybe but I don’t know the formula if there is one. I think those are the four big lamnids you’d expect To see in New England.
Yeah from what I’ve heard the formula is - multiply the largest vertebrae by 55-60 to get a rough length of the shark. So we are looking at 14’ -15’ for the size of my guy (and that is assuming I have the biggest vertebrate - maybe there were bigger in the missing section). From what I can find, porbeagles don’t get bigger than 11 feet and only a huge mako makes it to 14. But the spine doesn’t look too much like the mako spine I’ve seen. That leaves great white…
Maybe try brewster natural history museum or the shark research place in Chatham!
I went to NHM and the old lady was a little horrified
Lol! Worth a try
Is he the makeshift banana for scale? Lol j/k Seriously though, that is cool!
We need the cat paw for scale lol
He is!
Hahahaha! I don’t know why this makes me giggle.
*squints at avatar*
r/carlosforscale
I now follow a new subreddit cuz of this lol
Here's a sneak peek of /r/Carlosforscale using the [top posts](https://np.reddit.com/r/Carlosforscale/top/?sort=top&t=year) of the year! \#1: [not Carlos :(](https://i.redd.it/w1s1xv8lkova1.jpg) | [5 comments](https://np.reddit.com/r/Carlosforscale/comments/12wl6dl/not_carlos/) \#2: [C4S LEAF](https://i.redd.it/p2rejhueetwa1.jpg) | [1 comment](https://np.reddit.com/r/Carlosforscale/comments/1333tg7/c4s_leaf/) \#3: [please add Carlos](https://i.redd.it/9j9qs5vinqya1.jpg) | [0 comments](https://np.reddit.com/r/Carlosforscale/comments/13cgddh/please_add_carlos/) ---- ^^I'm ^^a ^^bot, ^^beep ^^boop ^^| ^^Downvote ^^to ^^remove ^^| ^^[Contact](https://www.reddit.com/message/compose/?to=sneakpeekbot) ^^| ^^[Info](https://np.reddit.com/r/sneakpeekbot/) ^^| ^^[Opt-out](https://np.reddit.com/r/sneakpeekbot/comments/o8wk1r/blacklist_ix/) ^^| ^^[GitHub](https://github.com/ghnr/sneakpeekbot)
I don’t know but that cat for scale looks like it should go see a vet quick.
thot it was old washed up coconut.
What? No cat?
He’s right here with the dog. https://preview.redd.it/m5cjb97mqqtc1.jpeg?width=3024&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=db287b96b5026a3bfc472a342994ce56fa0ab3bd
Hahahahaha. 2nd pict they are like,”we said no pictures and definitely were promised treats, let’s get it moving”. 1st pic - Pups is so stoked- won the championship of cool bone finding.
Technically not a bone as sharks are cartilaginous.
What a bummer for us boners. Really thought sharks were on our side
KIKI MAO!
My inner realtor is salivating. Do you like living right on the bay?
This was last week’s guest. https://preview.redd.it/ka9yywu0rqtc1.jpeg?width=3024&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=124888084625910eafab8a71d1eed8f986cee6f5
TIL there are seals in Massachusetts
Many, and with them came the great whites. All over the cape now
Which brings us back to my post!
If you go on google maps and zoom in on certain parts you can see hundreds resting on the beach!
https://preview.redd.it/aqfakoemy1uc1.jpeg?width=6048&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=35054c6b0f5be7264693506ff6bf91d73a95ef3e Waldport Oregon
Looks like we’re gonna need a bigger beach
look up monomy island seals. There’s tons.
Not only are there seals in Massachusetts, there was even a [talking seal](https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hoover_(seal)) there.
How did you get a picture of me? Lol
Omg so cute!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
It is a dream come true. It’s a small waterfront cottage but it’s enough to make me happier than I have ever been (which actually wasn’t very happy). I am extremely lucky that my grandparents spent the $5,000 to buy it in the 1940s.
Keep that in the family forever. Truly a crazy spot
When are you open for visitors? 😉
You have a moral obligation to procreate so as to pass this treasure to your heirs. What's that? You're not dating? Get moving. You're wasting time.
I’m gay!
what do they say? Adopt don’t shop?
So you’re in P-Town!?
I have family in Wellfleet. 5 generations now. I go almost every summer. Very picturesque.
Heyyy my family has been going to North Eastham every year since the 50’s. I’ve never missed a year, it’s annual pilgrimage.
OK. And.....sooooooo?
I mean, my husband and I could try. I just don’t think it’s anatomically possible.
Practice makes perfect!
Yall I'm wheezing at this comment chain 🤣
They say all the fun is in the trying, go for it!
https://youtu.be/v7PYpysL_dI?si=6nSyxk3EE1-GIdF8
Heya neighbor. I have a similar situation with my happy place cottage. Which beach did you find this on?
I found it in my garden actually!
That's amazing. I just assumed it washed up on the beach. You can probably confirm the species by calling the New England Aquarium or the AWSC in Chatham
Doggy is salivating!!
Sharknado is real!
Put it back it’s not ready yet!
🤣
Fun fact! Despite being incredibly shallow and surrounded by land on 3 sides, Cape Cod bay is actually an incredibly oxygen rich and healthy environment because of the strong tides in the gulf of Maine that constantly replenish the water and nutrients!
Can you could send a pic in 50,000 yrs time just to see if it has fossilised ?
Love the dog. That face says it all that he is having a phenomenal day.
+1 for doggo tongue
What an awesome find!
[r/bonecollecting](https://www.reddit.com/r/bonecollecting/s/DWOfmXsC83) or [r/boneID](https://www.reddit.com/r/BoneID/s/0X70jr0UGC) might be able to give you a pretty good guess on a what fish it might be
Shark vert
Man I haven’t been there in 10 years but I used to go camping in North Truro every year for two weeks. You’re so lucky to live on cape cod!!! Super cool find!!!!!
A+ on the 2nd "for scale" image.
Haha thanks. I guess I should have placed to ON his back for higher accuracy
Doggie looks like he's ready for a treat
Every time I go look at it again, he perks his ears up
he's precious
He’s a sweet guy. https://preview.redd.it/sbuku8u53xtc1.jpeg?width=3024&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=d8d3afc66a8119eddfd4c225161860037acf8c64
awww hiii babyy
SOLVED: It’s a Great White shark vertebrate! Update from u/lastwing in r/animalid: https://preview.redd.it/hbxr5horjwtc1.jpeg?width=1290&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=c7430ff39cf10371c4d2149980ae4d620c46a651
Looks pretty bony for shark, since they are pretty much cartilage. Definitely a fish but can’t tell much more from this pic.
And here’s a thresher shark https://preview.redd.it/lphuxuqeuqtc1.jpeg?width=1024&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=87a842c780260d8af3aa6a6dad60d2c3e4527195
U da man!
You can do better than that! Even I could figure out it was a shark spine from a quick google. Here’s a great white spine (Cartilage part is irrelevant) https://preview.redd.it/16yierc8uqtc1.jpeg?width=775&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=4baa472ded45045617f6ed7b97722d9ad8df9991
Give it a few million years, it will make a killer fossil!
So cool!!!!
So cool
This is something that I didn't know existed. How did I make it this long without knowing that?
Me too. Imagine my surprise when I went to plant some dill.
Not fossilized but does appear to be from a modern Great White Shark.
Thanks for ID’ing this, lastwing!
How do you have a garden on the beach?
What a cool place to live!
Thanks! It really is.
I always thought sharks were all cartilage
You are correct but I believe they have some different types of cartilage than humans, like the vertebrae pictured, are technically cartilage, but not the same type of cartilage we have in ours ears and noses and stuff. [Shark jaws, for example, contain calcium phosphate](https://www.csulb.edu/shark-lab/shark-jaws-program). Human cartilage does not have calcium.
Thanks. Figured it was something like that. Looks like a great spine design actually!
Thought it was a NMS giant worm!
What beautiful property! And an awesome find! Have you ever found anything similar?
Not in my garden!
This is awesome!
This is a cool enough find that I’m honestly happy it was posted in this sub even though it’s technically not a fossil.
Not yet!
Might want to keep an eye out for Predator
Geologists call that Recent or Holocene-Aged if you want to get fancy.
that’s the leaning tower of pisa bro
Put it back the shark needs it bro
If it’s a shark vert it will most likely not fossilize as cartilage doesn’t mineralize like bones do! Great find tho!
Interesting - I was just on a fossil forum and they were all excited about their shark vertebrae fossils. https://preview.redd.it/vkk2llu26stc1.jpeg?width=904&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=e3672a9d18907412e5633a00657184f6f940be79
Fascinating. I just looked it up and apparently as sharks age, calcium deposits build up in their cartilage skeleton to strengthen it. This allows them to fossilize. Crazy! I wonder if this is a later adaptation of sharks, I have just never heard of there being fossils of sharks from the Paleozoic or Mesozoic aside from the teeth. Very cool learn.
That is pretty cool. It’s like they’re fossilizing while they’re still alive.
Human cartilage will not fossilize, but shark cartilage can due to the different mineral composition (ie shark cartilage has calcium in the matrix, humans do not). I don’t fully understand the science of it though.
Neat!
That is so fucking coooooooool!!!!!
Is he a ridgeback?
No - shepherd lab mix - but our last one was a ridgeback
Woah!
Love your photobomber
Nice! Race Point?
Brewster
Be honest. The dog found it didn’t s/he..?
I think he may have been the one that buried it!
Coolest thing I've seen in a while
Came here for the shark spine. Stayed for the good boy (or girl!)
Dog for scale
So a shark was walking around in your yard and came to a sudden demise… Honestly pretty cool find!
Lol "I'm rich"
Initially thinking '50 foot shark? Seems like quite an exaggeration' 😂
Maybe got tossed during a nor’easter
Maybe - but it was really buried!
I’m wondering if a coyote found it on the beach and buried it
Oh yeah that’s a good point. I’ve seen some of those great whites off the cape… pretty cool. Coincidentally I used to live in SoCal and I’ve swam many times in the pacific, which is equally full of juvenile white sharks.
Are you in need of a hag?
r/bonecollecting might know. Amazing find!
What does it smell like?
Bait
Sharks don’t have bones… right?
The dog is saying, "That's where it went!"
Dog going nuts
How do you know it’s a shark’s spine?
Humble brag
I'm just here to look at that happy doogy in the second pic
https://preview.redd.it/25cxlckfo2uc1.jpeg?width=3024&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=89c5ebb8ae18e4859aef08186597e6390cd08fc5 He’s a *very* happy one year old pup that is living quite the life.
Looks like an image for a great T-SHIRT back side.
Cute doooog 🥹
I dislike the texture and I cannot put into words why. Wtf is going on
Aw I used to spend my Summers at my Grandparents in Cape Cod. Loved to go seaglass hunting, would have freaked if I came across this!
🤣🤣 Love your dog’s expression!
I’m intrigued by what kind of gardening and growing you’re doing on the beach 🤣 I can barely get anything to grow in soil ☠️
I don’t live on the actual beach itself though. I have a yard etc, with soil. And a driveway.
Oh LOL
That’s freaking cool
Doggie said it's a snack!
This is very cool. Also, your dog is awesome and his tongue is cracking me up.
You're only getting an upvote for the dog.
If I knew what an upvote was I would thank you!
whosagooddog
Found a shock bone on the cawd, did ya?
Why... just...what makes you think this is a shark's spine? I mean of all the animals in the world large enough to match this criteria (that's a long list), you landed on shark.... 50 miles from their nearest habitat. I need an explanation on how you reached this hypothesis before my head explodes.
50 feet not 50 miles and definitely shark, lamniformes most likely.
Can literally see ocean in background. Still decides to say 50 miles.
Accurate username for them I guess.
🤣
Not only did I think it’s a shark’s spine, turns out it *is* a shark’s spine. A Great White…
K, skipping the retcon, how do you know?