Initially she inserted the gene using bacteria, but then her colleagues managed to breed the ancient rice with modern varieties using genetics-assisted breeding technologies, which transferred the flood-resistance gene and not much else.

FORBES: Green Genes

Autophagy is an ancient mechanism, shared by all eukaryotic organisms (those which, unlike bacteria, keep their DNA in a membrane-bound nucleus within their cells).

ECONOMIST: Exercise and longevity

They used new techniques that can identify ancient genetic information from an archaeological find, even when large amounts of DNA from soil bacteria are also present.

BBC: Fossil human traces line to modern Asians

So while mouth washes are great for killing remnant bacteria on all surfaces, you have to get between the teeth with the ancient invention called floss to really reach every spot.

WSJ: How to Be a Better Flosser

By using stringent sterilisation procedures, the researchers satisfied themselves that modern bacteria had (literally) only a billion-to-one chance of slipping into their ancient samples.

ECONOMIST: Old salts