[verisimi]

Not only that, but is it really the case that genetic material survives for 600 years? Can we really say, 'we know that these 12 samples are from red squirrels 600 years ago'?

> "With our genetic analysis we were able to identify red squirrels as the first ancient animal host of leprosy," says senior author Verena Schuenemann of the University of Basel in Switzerland.

[surfingdino]

Yes, it can https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3685887/

[verisimi]

Thank you for the link.

> However, under favorable environmental conditions, for example when tissues are frozen or become desiccated quickly after death, these processes become inhibited before the complete destruction of all DNA endogenous to the organism.

Do you think there are 12 red squirrels in Winchester that were frozen or desiccated 600 years ago?

[surfingdino]

While Brexit has not improved food quality in Britain, I'm sure some well-preserved dead squirrels remain in the area. Also, Winchester is not that far from the Isle of Wight, one of the red squirrel strongholds

https://www.wildlifetrusts.org/where_to_see_red_squirrels

[verisimi]

I'm out and about all the time, walking, I go to various places, and yet hardly ever find any signs of dead animals. Most recently I have saw a dead dear (roadkill), and it has now decomposed pretty completely after 2 months.

I don't see how 1 red squirrel dies 600 years ago, and we still have its remains today, nevermind 12 of them! All from Winchester!

[surfingdino]

Old churches, castles? Crypts, attics?

[verisimi]

It's unlikely, right?

https://www.wikipedia.org/wiki/Grade_II*_listed_buildings_in...

Here's a list of medieval buildings in Winchester. There are 30-40 buildings old enough. Hard to imagine red squirrels choosing to die in these places, not being eaten by other critters, and then remaining undiscovered by cleaners all this time, only to finally become historical DNA samples.