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Hunt for the Oldest DNA

NOVA brings you stories from the frontlines of science and engineering, answering the big questions of today and tomorrow, from how our ancestors lived, to whether parallel universes exist, to how technology will transform our lives. Visit the official website to watch full-length documentaries, or explore our world through short-form video, on our digital publication NOVA Next.

Hunt for the Oldest DNA

Season 51 Episode 4 | 53m 10s | CC

For decades, scientists have tried to unlock the secrets of ancient DNA. Follow the dramatic quest to recover DNA millions of years old and reveal a lost world from before the last Ice Age.

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Funding for NOVA and HUNT FOR THE OLDEST DNA is provided by Carlisle Companies, Viking Cruises, the NOVA Science Trust with support from Roger Sant, the Corporation for Public Broadcasting, and PBS viewers. Original production funding for HUNT FOR THE OLDEST DNA is provided by Heising-Simons Foundation, Novo Nordisk Foundation, and the George D. Smith Fund, Inc.