What sequence of events occurs to create an amber-fossilised insect?

• The insect becomes stuck to the sticky surface of tree resin. 

• More resin flows over its body, encasing it.

• The resin solidifies and, after millions of years of continued drying and hardening, becomes amber.

It is important to remember that bacteria and enzymes within the gut of the insect continue working even after it is trapped in the resin, rotting the insect from the inside.  Many insects preserved in amber are completely hollow without any internal organs or tissues preserved inside. 

This means it would be very difficult to extract the DNA of the insect itself.  The chances of getting any DNA from something that insect fed upon are even more remote.

 

DNA was first reported to have been recovered from amber in 1992.  Scientists in California

claimed to have extracted fragments of DNA from an extinct species of bee (Proplebeia

dominicana).  Shortly after, scientists in New York claimed to have extracted DNA from an

extinct species of termite. 

 

DNA is extremely fragile.  It degrades in water, decays and falls apart very easily.  Amber,

however, provides fairly unique conditions for preservation.  It is not, however, flawless. 

Water can pass through amber, cracks and fractures in the amber can let air in and out. 

 

The Natural History Museum in London has tried to replicate the 1992 experiments to extract the DNA from Dominican amber bees, but no insect DNA was recovered.  Now, most scientists agree that DNA does not survive in fossilized insects in amber.