Back from the Dead

Scientists have moved a step closer to de-extinctify the extinct mammoth after identifying extensive genetic changes that can allow the giant to adapt to the Arctic life.

The development came after a mammoth gene involved in temperature sensation was resurrected in the laboratory and its protein product characterised. Lead author of the project, Vincent Lynch said the study is trying to figure out the genetic changes that made a woolly mammoth a woolly mammoth.

Scientists involved in the project deep sequenced the genomes of two woolly mammoths and three Asian elephants - closest living relative of the giant. Following this, they compared these genomes against each other and against the genome of African elephant. In the ensuing experiment, researchers figured out close to 1.4 million genetic variants unique to woolly mammoths.

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