Help From DNA

We hear about DNA constantly, how it is the key to identifying people, traits, curing disease and more. No doubt breaking the DNA code was a huge breakthrough in science In Israel there is an interesting DNA experiment going on that may reveal quite a bit about genetics. Israeli researchers at the Louis Borick Natural Medicine Research Center in Jerusalem have germinated a date palm tree sapling from seeds 2000 year old, hoping its ancient DNA can reveal medical qualities to benefit humans.
The scientists say they used seeds found in an archeological excavation at Masada, the famous biblical fortress where Jewish rebels choose suicide in stead of being conquered by Roman legions in A.D.73. These sees are the oldest ever brought back to life. (by about 100 years!). The seedling is now about one third meter high and one of its leaves has been sent for DNA analysis to reveal whatever information may be useful to medical researchers, that may have disappeared in the past 1000 years.
There is hope some clue ay be found to aid in treating cancer and other terminal diseases because the date tree of that time was supposedly highly medicinal and were often used in the treatment of tumors. Until the DNA results come back they researchers know little about the differences between this ancient date palm and current ones, but they already see physical differences.
For example, the leaves of the 2000 seedling plant are much longer than current date palm tree leaves. If the plant survives and is a female (only female date plants produce fruit) it will take 30 years or so to produce fruit. The fact that the seedling survived for so long may mean it holds other DNA cues that humans can use for extending the lives of people.
It's too bad we hear so little of this kind of work and so much stupidity in the media- the Michael Jackson trial, runaway brides and the like. Let's hope those stories don't live as long as the 2000 date palm plant did.