The world around contains large amounts of strongly fragmented and damaged DNA and most of it is being degraded. There is a possibility some of this DNA could be over thousands of years old. In laboratory experiments discussed in the scientific journal
Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, reveal that bacteria take up very short and damaged DNA from the environment and easily integrate it into their own genome. Short DNA strands which were previously labeled "biologically inactive" have been proven to still be active and usable by bacteria. With this understanding we see how bacteria can become resistant to antibiotics in hospital environments. This "Second-Hand Evolution" also provides a different look at evolution. Professor Esle Willerslev, from the centre for GeoGenetics believes that the driving force of evolution is driven by the DNA from dead organisms.
I think bacteria's ability to uptake short strands of DNA and incorporate the sequences right into their own DNA is phenomenal. This possibly represents a fundemental evolutionary process that only needs a growing cell consuming DNA pieces. This article also gives us a unique outlook on how microorganisms have exchanged genes through the history of life.
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This article and research opens the door to many possibilities. Like you said this may be why there are bacteria resistant to antibiotics found so commonly in hospitals but it may also possibly play a large role in evolution. According to the theory of evolution the earliest forms of life on Earth were bacteria. If they have the ability to take up DNA they can keep progressing and changing. It is interesting and also frightening to think that this bacteria has the ability to incorporate other organisms DNA into their own !
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