College
Buchtel College of Arts and Sciences
Date of Last Revision
2026-04-28 12:31:24
Major
Biology
Honors Course
BIOL 499
Number of Credits
2
Degree Name
Bachelor of Science
Date of Expected Graduation
Spring 2026
Abstract
Molecular paleontology—the study of ancient biomolecules preserved in fossils and sediments, including ancient DNA, lipids, and proteins—has motivated researchers since the 1950s, inspiring both scientific inquiry and broader cultural imagination. Think Jurassic Park. This honors thesis presents a comprehensive review of the history, current state, and methods of the field of molecular paleontology. Drawing on peer-reviewed literature and scholarly resources accessed through databases such as EBSCO and Bierce library, this review examines key techniques such as Next Generation Sequencing and amino acid racemization and will go over limitations and controversies in the field. It will also explore potential new avenues and research.
Research Sponsor
Dr. Joel Duff
First Reader
Dr. Ashley Wain
Second Reader
Joseph Hannibal
Honors Faculty Advisor
Dr. Brian Bagatto
Proprietary and/or Confidential Information
No
Community Engaged Scholarship
No
Recommended Citation
Touchstone, Shelby, "Overview and Methods of Molecular Paleontology: A Review" (2026). Williams Honors College, Honors Research Projects. 2104.
https://ideaexchange.uakron.edu/honors_research_projects/2104
Included in
Biogeochemistry Commons, Biotechnology Commons, Evolution Commons, Genetics Commons, Molecular Biology Commons, Molecular Genetics Commons, Paleobiology Commons, Paleontology Commons