Mammoth DNA and illuminated evolution

2009/01/01 Elhuyar Zientzia Iturria: Elhuyar aldizkaria

• Eboluzioa
• Genetika

A team of researchers at Pennsylvania State University manages to decode 70% of the genome of a mammoth. It is the first time that almost the entire genome of an extinct animal has been decoded.

The data obtained have confirmed the conclusions of this same group three years ago. Then, they sequenced the DNA of the mammoth mitochondria and the information received concluded that in Siberia there were two mammoth species, which six million years ago separated from the elephants. However, the mitochondria genome is very limited, i.e. it has very little genome and the results of this research were not satisfied by the paleontologist.

The conclusions are the same in current research, investigating the DNA of the nuclei. To carry out this study the researchers bought the material on the internet, specifically on the eBay website. A Russian bought a series of mammoth hairs for sale. According to scientists, hair is a better source of DNA than bone, because it is less likely to be bacteria or fungi.