A young woolly mammoth now known as Yuka was frozen in the Siberian permafrost for about 40,000 years before it was discovered by local tusk hunters in 2010. The hunters soon handed it over to scientists, who were excited to see its exquisite level of preservation, with skin, muscle tissue, and even reddish hair intact. Later research showed that, while full cloning was impossible, Yuka’s DNA was in such good condition that some cell nuclei could even begin limited activity when placed inside mouse eggs.
Now, a team has successfully sequenced Yuka’s RNA—a feat many researchers once thought impossible. Researchers at Stockholm University carefully ground up bits of muscle and other tissue from Yuka and nine other woolly mammoths, then used special chemical treatments to pull out any remaining RNA fragments, which are normally thought to be much too fragile to survive even a few hours after an organism has died. Scientists go to great lengths to extract RNA even from fresh samples, and most previous attempts with very old specimens have either failed or been contaminated.
A different view
The team used RNA-handling methods adapted for ancient, fragmented molecules. Their scientific séance allowed them to explore information that had never been accessible before, including which genes were active when Yuka died. In the creature’s final panicked moments, its muscles were tensing and its cells were signaling distress—perhaps unsurprising since Yuka is thought to have died as a result of a cave lion attack.
This is such a fascinating discovery! The idea of extracting RNA from a woolly mammoth that has been frozen for so long is truly remarkable. It’s incredible to think about what we can learn from these ancient creatures.
frozen for so long is incredible! It really opens up new possibilities for understanding ancient life and ecosystems. Plus, studying Yuka’s RNA could provide insights into how these animals adapted to their harsh environments.
Absolutely, it’s fascinating how the preservation in permafrost has allowed scientists to extract such ancient RNA. This could provide valuable insights not just into woolly mammoths, but also into the ecosystems they lived in and how climate changes affected them.