A Key Scientific Achievement That Will Change Everything: Mammoths Are Coming Back

The science

A group of scientists led by National Centre for Genomic Analysis (CNAG) and the Center for Genomic Regulation (CRG) of Barcelona in collaboration with Baylor College of Medicine in the USA and University of Copenhagen Denmarkdiscovered ancient chromosomes in woolly mammoth remains 52,000 years ago. The discovery shows that these fossils preserve chromosome structure at the nanometer scale, allowing them to span hundreds of millions of genetic letters. The achievement redefines the study of life in the Earthbecause typical fragments of ancient DNA are much shorter, providing a powerful tool for reconstructing the entire genome of extinct creatures. The study also showed how fossil chromosomes preserve patterns of gene activity, such as the genes responsible for the development of hair follicles in the woolly mammoth, opening up new insights into the biology and evolution of these hair follicles. prehistoric species.

The exceptional preservation of chromosomes is due to the extreme cold and dehydration that the animals suffered from. woolly mammoth earThese conditions allowed their skin cells to become trapped, preventing them from dispersing. DNA fragmentsBy studying these fossilized chromosomes, extracted from the skin of a mammoth, the researchers looked at which genes were active. This phenomenon is known as chromosome compartmentalization. In most cases, the patterns of gene activity were similar to those seen in the skin of modern elephants. “These fossils not only show which genes were active, but also provide insight into the mechanisms underlying that activity,” said Marty Renom, one of the study’s leaders.

Scientists were able to “resurrect” a mammoth

A team of scientists has discovered Ancient Chromosome Fossils Found in Woolly Mammoth Remains died 52,000 years ago. Published in the journal cellThe study clarified that the DNA was extracted from a sample of skin behind the ear of this mammoth, which was found in northeastern Siberia in 2018 and was remarkably well preserved. Fossil chromosomes are a revolutionary tool for studying the history of life on our planet.

Unlike typical fragments of ancient DNA, which are typically short and consist of about 100 base pairs, or genetic letters, fossil chromosomes are much longer. They can span hundreds of millions of genetic letters, providing a more complete and detailed view of the sequence DNA of an extinct organismThese advanced capabilities allow scientists to more accurately reconstruct the genomic structure and evolution of past species, opening new doors to understanding biology and diversity over geological time.

The mammoth was naturally freeze-dried shortly after its death, preserving its properties, said Olga Dudchenko, a co-author of the study and a researcher at the Center for Genome Architecture at Baylor College of Medicine. Nanoscale Nuclear Architecture for thousands of years.

This discovery has important implications for possible The Revival of the Woolly Mammothhelping to clarify its genetic relationship to modern elephants. The researchers determined that the woolly mammoth had 28 pairs of chromosomes, matching the Asian elephant, its closest living relative. The discovery confirms the technical feasibility of resurrecting the species and provides a genetic basis for future efforts in the field.

The study not only reveals physical structure of fossil chromosomesbut also allows us to better understand the specific genetic activity of the woolly mammoth, such as genes related to hair follicle development. This level of detail is critical to reconstructing the mammoth’s genetic sequence and figuring out how these genetic instructions translate into the characteristics seen in these ancient animals.

Carles Lalueza-Fox, a specialist in DNA recovery techniques from the remains of the past and director Barcelona Museum of Natural SciencesSMC Spain explains the following, according to the report Newspaper: “This study provides new biological data on the mammoth genome, especially its three-dimensional structure. The experimental approach is really exciting. This method could provide data on the genomic architecture of extinct species that were previously unavailable. “It remains to be seen how many species could be analysed in this way, as the cold and dry preservation conditions are very special and it is likely that they can only occur in extremely cold climates.”

To sum up, we can say that the discovery Fossilized chromosomes of the woolly mammoth represents a significant advance in the field of paleogenomics, opening up new insights into genetic structure and function Extinct species. This approach could open new doors for understanding and potentially reviving woolly mammoths in the future. Geneticist Mark Marty Renome stresses that while the new discovery is historic, the fact that it was made in a mammoth is anecdotal.