The recent discovery of a woolly mammoth’s remains in Siberia has opened new doors for science. This ancient creature, which lived around 40,000 years ago, was so well-preserved by permafrost that researchers managed to extract viable RNA for the first time.
Scientists from Stockholm University shared their findings in the journal Cell. This breakthrough challenges the long-held belief that RNA degrades too quickly after death to be useful. Marc Friedlander, a computational biologist and the study’s lead author, expressed astonishment, saying, “It’s so amazingly surprising to find RNA that is 40,000 years old. Nobody really thought this was possible.”
RNA, or ribonucleic acid, plays a crucial role in converting genes into proteins. Typically, it breaks down rapidly outside living cells. However, in the case of this mammoth—named Yuka, likely a female—permafrost created a unique environment that helped preserve the RNA.
Love Dalen, a paleontologist involved in the project, noted, “It felt like a very high-risk project. It seemed like a completely crazy thing to try to do.” Yet, the team succeeded, extracting RNA from several mammoth specimens, with Yuka being one of the most useful. Dalen highlighted the importance of their findings: “You’re actually seeing processes going on inside the cells right around the time it died. These processes have been frozen in time for 40,000 years.”
The researchers also identified new types of microRNA, which are essential for gene expression. Understanding these ancient RNA fragments could shed light on the origins of RNA viruses like SARS-CoV-2 and Ebola. This research opens up exciting avenues for studying ancient diseases and how they interact with modern organisms.
As scientists continue to explore the implications of this discovery, social media buzz shows that many people are fascinated by the concept of ancient DNA being revived. This interest highlights the ongoing human curiosity about our planet’s history and the creatures that once roamed it.
Researchers hope to build on this discovery, paving the way for deeper insights into the past. With advancements like these, we might one day better understand not just ancient species but also how they relate to our current biological landscape.
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woolly mammoth, Stockholm University, RNA extraction, RNA viruses, RNA, Yuka
