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14,400-Year-Old Woolly Rhinoceros Genome Reveals No Signs of Recent Inbreeding

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The Woolly Rhino (Coelodonta antiquitatis) is a fascinating cold-adapted herbivore that went extinct approximately 14,000 years ago. Despite its extinction, little is understood about the factors leading to its population decline. A recent study by scientists from the Center for Paleogenetics and Stockholm University successfully generated a high-coverage genome from one of the last known woolly rhinoceros specimens, recovered from the stomach of a frozen wolf pup in Siberian permafrost. This genomic analysis, when combined with data from two other late Pleistocene woolly rhinoceroses, reveals that the population was stable, lacking any genomic evidence of rapid declines before extinction—contrasting sharply with other endangered and extinct species.

This depiction of a Pleistocene landscape in northern Spain features woolly mammoths (Mammuthus primigenius), equids, woolly rhinoceros (Coelodonta antiquitatis), and the European cave lion (Panthera leo spelaea) alongside reindeer carcasses. Image credit: Mauricio Anton.

The woolly rhino, a cold-adapted herbivore, first appeared around 350,000 years ago and thrived across northern Eurasia until its extinction roughly 14,000 years ago.

Its habitat began to contract eastward approximately 35,000 years ago, likely due to adverse environmental conditions in Western Europe.

This species persisted in northeastern Siberia and showcased complex range shifts in response to changing environments until disappearing from the fossil record.

Earlier genomic studies have shown no signs of recent inbreeding in individuals dating back 18,400 and 48,500 years; however, this is the first time an entire genome has been successfully recovered from a specimen so close to the extinction timeline.

“Recovering genomes from individuals that lived just before extinction is challenging but crucial for understanding a species’ decline, which can inform current conservation efforts for endangered species,” stated Dr. Camilo Chacon-Duque, the lead author of the study.

The newly sequenced woolly rhinoceros genome was sourced from muscle tissue found within a permafrost-preserved wolf pup recovered from northeastern Siberia.

Radiocarbon dating indicates that both the wolf and the tissue are about 14,400 years old, making it one of the youngest known woolly rhino remains.

“Sequencing the entire genome of an Ice Age animal found in another animal’s stomach is unprecedented,” Dr. Chacon-Duque commented.

By comparing this genome with two previously published late Pleistocene woolly rhinoceros genomes, researchers assessed genome-wide diversity, inbreeding, genetic load, and population size changes before extinction.

Results indicated a lack of long homozygous segments typically seen in populations experiencing recent inbreeding, suggesting stability in population size just centuries before extinction.

“DNA extraction from such a rare sample was both thrilling and immensely challenging,” said Solveig Gjonsdottir, the lead study author.

Researchers also mapped changes in effective population size and found no decline at the beginning of the Inter-Bolling-Allerod warm period, starting around 14,700 years ago.

The data imply that woolly rhinoceros extinction likely happened rapidly during this climate change period, or over a timeframe that left no detectable genomic evidence.

“Our analysis reveals an unexpectedly stable genetic pattern, showcasing unaltered inbreeding levels over tens of thousands of years prior to the woolly rhino’s extinction,” said co-author Dr. Edana Lord.

“Our findings indicate that woolly rhinos maintained viable populations for 15,000 years following the arrival of the first humans in northeastern Siberia. This suggests that climate warming, rather than human hunting, was the primary driver of their extinction,” co-author Professor Rab Dalen concluded.

For further details, refer to the study results published in Genome Biology and Evolution.

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Solveig M. Gudjonsdottir et al. 2026. Genome reveals no recent inbreeding in endangered woolly rhinoceros sample found in ancient wolf stomach. Genome Biology and Evolution 18 (1): evaf239; doi: 10.1093/gbe/evaf239

Source: www.sci.news

Scientists Find Woolly Rhinoceros DNA in Stomach of Mummified Wolf Pup

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Two ancient wolf cubs, discovered buried in the Siberian permafrost over a decade ago, are now shedding new light on their past through rich DNA evidence hidden in their remains.

For the first time, researchers have uncovered a piece of woolly rhino meat—an animal comparable in size to modern white rhinos but with a thick furry coat—preserved in the stomach of one of the wolf puppies. The DNA from this meat and fur has remarkably survived for over 14,000 years under the ice, enabling scientists to sequence the entire genome. They published their findings in the Wednesday Journal “Genome Biology and Evolution”.

“This is the first instance where an entire genome has been reconstructed from an Ice Age animal found within another Ice Age animal,” stated study author Camilo Chacón-Duque, an evolutionary biologist from Uppsala University in Sweden. “The genome quality is exceptional and of high resolution.”

A piece of woolly rhinoceros tissue found in the stomach of a preserved wolf pup in Stockholm in 2020.love darren

The woolly rhinoceros in question went extinct approximately 14,400 years ago, just a few hundred years prior to its disappearance from the fossil record. This gives researchers a unique glimpse into the genome of a species on the brink of extinction.

“This sample represents the youngest woolly rhinoceros ever sequenced, marking the closest proximity of the species to extinction,” Chacon-Duque noted.

Evolutionary biologists have long debated whether it was human hunters or climate change that ultimately led to the woolly rhinoceros’s extinction. New genomic data indicates that the population may have been robust until its sudden decline.

Tumat-1 wolf pup in Vienna in 2018.Miech Germonpre

The first of the two small puppies was discovered by ivory hunters searching for mammoth tusks in Siberia nearly 15 years ago, with the other being found four years later.

These mummified animals, known as the “Tumat pups,” have unexpectedly aided scientists in exploring the fate of another species.

According to the research, both puppies were female and likely littermates, found just six feet apart and sharing several DNA traits, as noted in a study published in Quaternary Research magazine last year.

A section of permafrost where a Tumat wolf pup was discovered near the Russian village of Tumato in 2011. Co-author Sergei Fedorov and his colleagues are in the foreground.Sergey Fedorov

“They died at a young age, around nine weeks,” explained Anne-Catherine Wyborg Runge, co-author of the Quaternary research paper. “At that age, they still had their baby teeth.”

Initial studies suggested that thawing permafrost may have triggered landslides, entombing the wolves in ice and snow, although it’s also possible that the puppies perished due to a collapsing burrow.

“They would have been buried instantly and then frozen for 14,000 years,” noted Runge’s co-author Nathan Wales, a senior archaeology lecturer at the University of York, UK.

Interestingly, the puppies were discovered near where ancient humans hunted woolly mammoths, suggesting they might have been domesticated dogs rather than wild wolves. However, no mammoth DNA was found in the pup’s stomach. Researchers believe one pup’s last meal was woolly rhinoceros meat, while the other had recently eaten a bird, leaving behind rhino meat and some feathers in the permafrost.

Study co-authors Sergei Fedorov and Mikkel Sinding conducted an autopsy in Vienna in 2018 on a Tumat wolf pup whose stomach contained woolly rhinoceros tissue fragments.Miech Germonpre

In a recent study published Wednesday, Chacón-Duque sequenced resilient chunks of meat from the animal’s last meal.

“This piece had remained in the pup’s stomach for years. It’s truly remarkable,” Runge remarked.

Although complete woolly rhinoceros genomes are rare, researchers compared their findings with two other high-quality genomes from rhinos that went extinct approximately 18,000 and 49,000 years ago.

Rab Dalen, co-author of the new study, poses with a woolly rhinoceros horn.Irina Kirilova

Chacón-Duque and team detected no signs of inbreeding or harmful mutations within the population, indicating it was robust.

“They haven’t identified any indicators suggesting population collapse, which is peculiar considering the species went extinct,” noted Wales, an ancient DNA expert not involved in the study.

Several centuries after the woolly rhinoceros roamed these areas, a significant warming phase commenced in the Northern Hemisphere, marking the end of the Ice Age. Study authors believe this newly sequenced DNA supports the hypothesis that climate change contributed to the woolly rhino’s extinction.

J Camilo Chacón Duque, co-author of the groundbreaking study.Natalia Romagosa

Chacón-Duque posits that the rising temperatures likely exert stress on cold-adapted populations, and human expansion could have facilitated the spread of diseases affecting the woolly rhino.

“All these factors likely interacted synergistically, contributing to the species’ ultimate demise,” Chacón-Duque concluded. “Without a doubt, climate change played a significant role.”

Mick Westbury, an associate professor and expert on ancient rhinos from the Technical University of Denmark, agrees with the theory’s plausibility.

However, Westbury points out that rare ancient DNA can pose interpretation challenges and that generational changes can heavily impact a species’ genetics. The woolly rhinoceros may have been at risk even if genetic analyses did not immediately indicate it.

“Sometimes, genomics alone doesn’t provide the complete picture,” Westbury remarked.

Nonetheless, Westbury suggests that these findings could offer vital insights for conservation efforts as human-induced climate change becomes an increasing threat to existing species.

“Our results indicate that the woolly rhino does not appear to be on the brink of extinction,” Westbury noted. “A species may seem genetically viable on the surface but still face vulnerabilities.”

Source: www.nbcnews.com

Ancient Woolly Rhinoceros Genome Found in Frozen Wolf Pup’s Stomach Meat

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Woolly Rhinoceros - an ancient herbivore

Woolly Rhinoceros: Icon of the Last Ice Age

History Collection / Alamy

A recently reconstructed genome from a piece of flesh found in the stomach of a wolf pup, dated to 14,400 years ago, reveals that the woolly rhinoceros was genetically robust despite its close proximity to extinction.

While the exact cause of the young female wolf pup’s death, near present-day Tumato in northern Siberia, remains a mystery, it is believed she and her sister, referred to as Tumat puppies, had recently consumed woolly rhinoceros meat (Coelodonta antiquitatis). Their mother inadvertently caused their burial in permafrost when their burrow collapsed.

The first puppy was discovered on-site in 2011, with the second found in 2015. Examination of one puppy’s stomach contents revealed remnants of woolly rhino meat.

Edana Road, a member of the research team at Stockholm University, remarked that the preserved material resembled “fluffy jerky.”

“It was astonishing to see hair still intact,” Lord commented.

Lord stated that the preservation of the tissue was almost miraculous.

“It’s remarkable that, thousands of years later, we retrieved a beautifully preserved mummified wolf pup, analyzed its stomach contents, and uncovered this woolly rhinoceros tissue, shedding light on a previously different species,” Lord adds.

Tumat Wolf Pup: Evidence of Woolly Rhinoceros Diet

Mietje Germonpre

Lord’s team successfully reconstructed the woolly rhinoceros genome, identifying it as a female with no signs of inbreeding.

This groundbreaking finding is significant because it marks the first time DNA has been recovered from a woolly rhinoceros close to the time of its extinction.

The cause behind the woolly rhinoceros’ extinction remains a topic of debate, encompassing the impacts of human hunting, climate change, and inbreeding.

Another researcher on the team, Darren Love, noted that the sample’s hair was yellowish, leading to initial thoughts that it belonged to a cave lion carcass (Panthera spelaea) until DNA analysis was performed.

“As far as I know, sequencing an entire ancient genome from stomach contents has never been accomplished before,” Darren stated.

The research team compared the new genome with two others from the woolly rhinoceros, dating back 18,000 and 49,000 years, discovering no evolution in genetic diversity or inbreeding levels over time.

“Had populations dwindled, we would expect a drop in genetic diversity among woolly rhinoceroses, alongside an increase in inbreeding,” Darren explained.

The researchers concluded that the most probable driver behind the woolly rhinoceros extinction was a rapid climate shift between 14,700 and 12,900 years ago, during the Bølling-Allerød Interstadial, which drastically altered the species’ habitat.

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Source: www.newscientist.com

RNA Molecules Discovered in 39,000-Year-Old Woolly Mammoth Tissue

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Researchers have successfully extracted and sequenced ancient RNA from the tissues of 10 woolly mammoths preserved in permafrost. One of these specimens is estimated to be 39,000 years old, making it the oldest ancient RNA sequence recorded to date.

Marmol Sanchez et al. Ancient RNA sequences identified in late Pleistocene woolly mammoth tissue. Image credit: Marmol Sanchez et al., doi: 10.1016/j.cell.2025.10.025.

Investigating prehistoric genes and their activation is crucial for understanding the biology and evolution of extinct species.

For years, scientists have been piecing together the mammoth genome and their evolutionary history through DNA analysis.

However, RNA, which indicates active genes, has remained elusive until now.

“With RNA, we can provide direct evidence of which genes are ‘turned on’ and gain insights into the final moments of mammoths that lived during the last Ice Age,” stated Dr. Emilio Marmol, a researcher at the Globe Institute.

“This kind of information cannot be obtained from DNA alone.”

In this study, Dr. Marmol and colleagues analyzed permafrost-preserved tissue from 10 late Pleistocene woolly mammoths discovered in northeastern Siberia, spanning from the central Indigirka region to the Oyogos Yar coast and the New Siberian Islands.

“We accessed exceptionally well-preserved mammoth tissue excavated from the Siberian permafrost, expecting it to contain RNA molecules that had remained frozen over millennia,” Marmol mentioned.

“We have pushed the limits of DNA recovery for over a million years,” said Professor Rav Dalen from Stockholm University and the Center for Paleogenetics.

“Now we aimed to determine if RNA sequencing could go further back than prior research.”

Researchers successfully identified tissue-specific gene expression patterns in the muscular remains of Yuka, a 39,000-year-old juvenile mammoth.

There are over 20,000 protein-coding genes in the mammoth genome, but not all are actively expressed.

The detected RNA molecules relate to proteins crucial for muscle contraction and metabolic regulation under stress.

Researchers also discovered several RNA molecules that regulate gene activity in mammoth muscle samples.

“We found non-protein-coding RNAs, such as microRNAs, which were among our most intriguing discoveries,” Dr. Mark Friedlander from Stockholm University’s Wenner-Gren Institute remarked.

“The muscle-specific microRNAs identified in mammoth tissue provide concrete evidence of gene regulation occurring in real-time in ancient eras. This is a groundbreaking achievement.”

The identified microRNAs also enabled the authors to confirm their findings originated from mammoths.

“We found a rare mutation in a specific microRNA, providing evidence that it is of mammoth origin,” noted Dr. Bastian Flom from the Norwegian Arctic University Museum.

“We also uncovered novel genes solely based on RNA evidence, a feat not attempted before at such ancient sites.”

“RNA molecules can endure for much longer than previously assumed.”

“Our findings demonstrate that RNA can survive much longer than previously thought,” Professor Dalen added.

“This allows us to not only explore which genes are ‘turned on’ in various extinct creatures but also to sequence RNA viruses like influenza and coronaviruses that are preserved in Ice Age remains.”

These findings were published in the Journal of Cell on November 14, 2025.

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Emilio Marmol-Sanchez et al. Ancient RNA expression profiles from extinct woolly mammoths. Cell published online on November 14, 2025. doi: 10.1016/j.cell.2025.10.025

Source: www.sci.news

Earliest RNA Sample Discovered from a Woolly Mammoth

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The skin and muscles of Yuka’s left front leg are remarkably intact.

love darren

The oldest known RNA has been obtained from a woolly mammoth preserved in Siberian permafrost for close to 40,000 years.

This specimen, named Yuka and found in 2010, is regarded as the best-preserved woolly mammoth (Mammuthus primigenius) identified to date. Initially believed to be a young female that perished between the ages of 6 and 8—likely due to an attack by a cave lion.

Researchers have successfully extracted DNA from various woolly mammoths, including some over a million years old. Advances in genome reconstruction have sparked hopes of potentially reviving this species through genetic engineering.

DNA carries the genetic blueprint for protein production in animals. When a specific gene is activated, the code is transcribed into another molecule known as RNA, which is far less stable than DNA and typically breaks down within hours after death.

The oldest RNA previously retrieved was from a wolf preserved in Siberian permafrost over 14,000 years ago. Recently, love darren from Stockholm University has extracted nearly three times the RNA amount from Yuka’s leg than had been recorded before.

The research team employed techniques similar to those used to extract RNA from contemporary samples, fine-tuning them to target smaller and older molecules.

“Yuka is exceptionally well preserved,” remarks Darren. “The specimen likely experienced deep freezing and prolonged burial in permafrost, evidenced by the preservation of both muscle tissue and wool-like fur. This significantly boosts the chance of RNA preservation.”

However, Yuka’s temporary thawing during transport from northeastern Siberia to Yakutsk posed a challenge. “We assumed that any truly ancient RNA still present in the sample would have degraded into smaller fragments,” says Darren.

The team exercised extreme caution to prevent sample deterioration and avoid contamination. “We utilized liquid nitrogen for grinding, along with sterile materials, filtered air, protective clothing, and controlled lab conditions to eliminate modern contamination in sequencing data,” he explains.

RNA sequencing reveals which genes were active at the time of the animal’s death. In the RNA extracted from Yuka’s muscle and skin, the researchers identified signs of gene activity associated with muscle metabolism and cellular stress, aligning with the hypothesis of Yuka’s death resulting from a cave lion’s attack.

A surprising finding was that a combination of DNA and RNA analysis led the research team to conclude that Yuka was actually male. “I’ve anticipated something like this for a long time,” shares Darren. “Even though Yuka is remarkably preserved for being 40,000 years old, it’s not entirely intact, making it difficult to determine an organism’s morphological sex.”

Researchers also probed for RNA viruses such as influenza and coronaviruses but found no significant results. “Yet I believe we will see future studies on Ice Age RNA viruses,” Darren mentions. “For instance, we possess some Pleistocene bird carcasses that would be intriguing to investigate concerning avian influenza.”

Darren, a scientific advisor to Colossal Biosciences, the company claiming to have revived the dire wolf earlier this year, stated that the RNA sequences retrieved in this study do not directly contribute to the revival of the mammoth. However, the study may offer valuable insights into genes responsible for certain traits. “In the future, mammoth RNA profiles might uncover how specific traits, such as wool, were genetically regulated in these animals.”

Merlin Crossley, a researcher at the University of New South Wales in Sydney, noted that while acquiring such ancient RNA is an impressive feat, it doesn’t reveal much about mammoth ecology. “It’s akin to maneuvering a light airplane under the Sydney Harbor Bridge,” he explained. “It’s a remarkable technical accomplishment, but we gain little insight from it.”

Crossley believes that while older RNA samples may be unearthed in the future, the limits of RNA’s longevity are close at hand. Given the rarity of specimens like Yuka’s, he concludes that it’s unlikely that additional mammoths will yield significant information.

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Source: www.newscientist.com

Scientists resurrect woolly mammoths with genetic technology and call them “mice”

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The first researchers in science created mice that exhibit properties similar to extinct woolly mammoths.

Colossal Biosciences, an American Biotechnology Company, utilized CRISPR genome editing technology to develop the “Colossal Woolly Mouse.”

These mice are not miniature mammoths but have DNA designed to express mammoth-like properties, making them well-suited for cold environments.

An unpublished study published on Biorxiv explains how researchers modified seven mouse genes to give them a woolly coat.

This marks the first instance of a “living model” of animals with mammoth-like attributes.

Two “woolly mice” created by scientists

“Observing these mice is akin to peering into the past through a specialized lens,” said Dr. Louise Johnson, an evolutionary biologist at the University of Reading not involved in the study. “This technology provides an exciting avenue to test our theories about extinct organisms.”

She added, “Researchers successfully adjusted the mouse genome towards the mammoth genome for the first time.”

Through extensive computer analysis, researchers studied mammoth and African elephant genomes from 1.2 million years ago, modifying mouse genes related to hair growth and cold tolerance to create the final edited seven-gene combination. However, these mice do not possess an exact replica of mammoth genes, leading researchers to doubt the genes responsible for mammoth properties.

The Significance of this Discovery

According to Colossal Biosciences, this development is a groundbreaking step in addressing extinction. The company aims to reintroduce other extinct species with the goal of rebuilding ecosystems to maintain Earth’s balance. Founder Ben Lam envisions reviving species like dodos, giant ice age bears, and extinct Tasmanian marsupials known as thylacines.

Not all scientists are convinced of the immediate impact of this discovery.

While genetic manipulation has been used to create various models, including humans and extinct species, some remain skeptical. Professor Dusko Ilic, a stem cell science professor at King’s College London, acknowledges the milestone but warns of potential risks and ethical implications of such experiments.

While comparing mammoth and elephant genomes offers insights into adaptation and genetic traits, transforming mice into mammoth-like creatures may not directly translate to creating woolly elephants adapted for Arctic environments.

Many scientists doubt the feasibility of replicating mammoths through genetic manipulation alone without a complete understanding of their genetic makeup.

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Source: www.sciencefocus.com

Can Genetically Engineered “Woolly” Mice Aid in Reviving the Mammoth?

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Mouse modified to give a “mammoth-like” coat

Huge

There is Estimated genetic differences of 1.5 million Between wool mammoth and an Asian elephant. Colossal Biosciences, a company that seeks to revive extinct species through genetic engineering, now makes mice with “mammoth-like” fur, each with up to five genetic changes. It seems there's still a way to go.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xq9mvp_gg9y

Certainly, these mice have long, curly hair and blonde hair. In that way, it resembles a wool mammoth coat stored in permafrost. However, it is not clear that bringing the same genetic alterations in Asian elephants with far fewer hairs per area of ​​the skin will result in similar results.

“The work done with these mice doesn't mean there's a solution ready to regain the huge phenotype,” says team members. I love Darren At Stockholm University in Sweden, on the Scientific Advisory Committee of Corosal. “As you point out, we also need to understand how to grow more fur.”

Creating an Asian elephant with these genetic changes would also be much more difficult than doing it in a mouse. “Engineering mutations in mice are an established process and are not particularly challenging.” Dusko Ilic King's College London.

Mouse that has been fixed and unfixed

Huge

Techniques that work in mice often fail in other species, and the size of elephants and their slow breeding significantly increases the time and cost involved. “These methods have not been developed for elephants. They are not easy based on anatomy.” Vincent Lynch At Buffalo University, New York. “That's probably the biggest challenge.”

However, Lynch is undoubtedly achievable. surely, Thomas Hildebrandt At the Leibniz Institute for Zoo and Wildlife Research in Berlin, Germany – Another giant advisor – New Scientist His team is the first time they've collected eggs from elephants, but the results have not yet been made public. Egg collection is an important step in IVF and is a genetic modification of mammals.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QGT8SOKDSXO

So how did Colossal make a “mammoth” mouse? Researchers began by looking for known mutations in mice that looked like fur. “[T]The majority of these genes were selected based on previous observations of the coat phenotype in mice,” read in a paper published today, which has not been peer-reviewed.

They identified eight genes that affect patterns (curse), color and hair length when disabled in mice. According to Colossal, one of these eight is a mammoth and is naturally disabled.

From the mammoth genome, the team identified small mutations that are thought to affect hair patterns, along with another disordered gene involved in fat metabolism.

The company then tried to modify these genes in mice. For example, one experiment used CRISPR gene editing to attempt to disable five of these genes in fertilized eggs. From 134 edited eggs, 11 puppies were born, and one of these puppies invalidated copies of both five genes.

Fur stored in frozen mammoth rank

Arami Stock Photo

In another study, the researchers used a form of CRISPR called base editing to abolish several genes in embryonic mouse stem cells. They combined this with another technique called homologous recombination to create the exact mutations found in the mammoth genome. Make accurate changes is much more difficult than disabling genes, but the recombination method works well only in the mouse.

The team then sequenced the cells to identify cells with the desired change and injected into mouse embryos to create chimeric mice. Of the 90 injected embryos, seven mice were born with four intended changes.

These experiments can be said to be successful in producing several mice with desirable physical changes in the fur, but only one genetic change is in exact agreement with what is found in the mammoth genome. It takes more work to achieve Colossal's stated purpose With the creation of “a cold-resistant elephant with all the core biological properties of wool mammoths,” and the elephant pregnancy lasting for about two years, Colossal is in time for a spontaneous 2028 deadline.

“Elephants with fur are not mammoths in the way we think of them.” Juan Antonio Rodriguez At the University of Copenhagen, Denmark. He says many of the 1.5 million differences between the mammoth and the Asian elephant genome may not be effective, but it is not clear which is more important.

Even if we did, it's dangerous to make broader changes, says Rodriguez. “The more things change in organisms, the more likely they are to tinker with major metabolic pathways and genes.”

Rodriguez, Lynch and Irik are all

Source: www.newscientist.com

New research indicates that woolly rhinos may have been driven to extinction by early humans

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Extinction of Woolly rhinoceros (Coelodonta Antiquitatis) This species, which lived at the beginning of the Holocene Epoch, remains shrouded in mystery, with conflicting evidence as to its causes and dynamics. A team of paleontologists led by scientists from the University of Adelaide and the University of Copenhagen has used computationally intensive modelling techniques and extensive paleontological and ancient DNA information to uncover why and how this enigmatic species went extinct.

Woolly rhinoceros (Coelodonta Antiquitatis) was once widespread across northern and central Eurasia but became extinct about 10,000 years ago. Image by Mauricio Antón.

The woolly rhinoceros is an iconic member of the giant steppe fauna of central and northern Eurasia, originating from the Tibetan Plateau approximately 2.5 million years ago.

It is a cold-adapted species with thick skin and long fur, and its body size is comparable to that of modern mammals. African white rhinoceros (Ceratotherium simum).

Based on fossil chronology, the woolly rhino is estimated to have become extinct by 13,900 years ago, despite having survived multiple glacial and interglacial cycles during the Pleistocene.

However, recent discovery of woolly rhinoceros DNA in early Holocene deposits suggests a later extinction date of 9,800 years ago. This young dating is subject to debate, but is unlikely to be due to redeposition of DNA.

“Using computer models, fossils and ancient DNA, we have traced the population history of woolly rhinoceros across Eurasia over 52,000 years, at a resolution previously thought impossible,” said Dr Damian Fordham, from the University of Adelaide.

“This suggests that a combination of decreasing temperatures beginning 30,000 years ago and small-scale but continuing hunting by humans caused the woolly rhino's range to shrink southwards, confining it to isolated and rapidly degraded habitat at the end of the last ice age.”

“As the Earth thawed and temperatures rose, woolly rhino populations were unable to colonize key new habitats in northern Eurasia, causing destabilization and collapse, ultimately leading to extinction.”

The new research contradicts previous studies that found humans were not responsible for the woolly rhino's extinction, despite the animal coexisting with humans for tens of thousands of years before its disappearance.

“The demographic responses revealed by our analysis have a much higher resolution than previously captured in genetic studies,” said Professor Eline Lorenzen from the University of Copenhagen.

“This allowed us to pinpoint key interactions between woolly rhinos and humans and document how these have changed over time and space.”

“One of these largely overlooked interactions is persistent, low-level hunting by humans, presumably for food.”

“Humans pose similar environmental threats today,” the researchers said.

“Large animal populations have been forced into fragmented and suboptimal habitats by overhunting and changes in human land use.”

“Of the 61 species of large terrestrial herbivores weighing more than one tonne that lived during the Late Pleistocene, only eight survive today, five of which are rhinos.”

“Our results show how climate change and human activities can lead to the extinction of large animals,” said Professor David Nogus Brabo from the University of Copenhagen.

“This understanding is crucial for developing conservation strategies to protect species currently at risk of extinction, such as vulnerable rhinos in Africa and Asia.”

“Studying past extinctions can provide valuable lessons for conserving Earth's remaining large animals.”

of study Appeared in Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.

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Damien A. Fordham others2024. 52,000 years of woolly rhino population dynamics reveal mechanisms of extinction. PNAS 121(24):e2316419121; doi:10.1073/pnas.2316419121

Source: www.sci.news

Could Woolly Mammoths Actually Make a Comeback?

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Unlike the extinct woolly mammoth, most edited elephants with mammoth-like features lack tusks to avoid poaching for ivory.

QuangTrungArt/Shutterstock

A company founded to bring back extinct animals has announced that it has made significant progress in its goal of bringing back the woolly mammoth. On March 6, Colossal announced that its team had succeeded in converting normal elephant cells into stem cells, which could lead to the creation of mammoth-like creatures. “This is an important step,” said the company's CEO. ben ramsaid in a press release. Here's what you need to know:

Is it really possible to bring the woolly mammoth back from extinction?

No, it's not, and it never will be. The genomes of several frozen mammoths have been sequenced, but there are many gaps. But it should be possible to edit the genome of a living elephant to make it look more like a mammoth. Colossal acknowledges on its website that the elephant it plans to create is a “cold-hardy elephant,” but says the animal “has all the key biological characteristics of a woolly mammoth.”

Will these edited elephants look like mammoths?

‘

Colossal says even the sounds of mammoths are similar, but it's unclear how humans know what a mammoth sounds like. There will be at least one major difference when it comes to their appearance.The majority do not have tusks to avoid ivory poaching, says Colossal co-founder George Church. Species with tusks can only be kept in highly supervised areas, he said.

Colossal also plans to make the mammoth-like elephants resistant to a deadly disease caused by the elephant endothelial-tropic herpesvirus.

Why does Colossal need to create elephant stem cells?

The company edits the genome of elephant cells to make them more similar to mammoths. But creating a living mammoth-like elephant requires producing embryos containing edited genomes. In theory, one way to do this would be to turn gene-edited elephant cells into so-called induced pluripotent stem cells, which then turn into egg and sperm cells.

What are induced pluripotent stem cells?

Pluripotent stem cells can transform into any cell in the body, including eggs and sperm. They occur naturally in embryos, but can also be made from adult cells by adding certain proteins, and are therefore “induced.” These have been produced in many animal species, but until now no one had succeeded in inducing pluripotency in elephant cells.

Why is it so difficult to induce elephant cells to become pluripotent?

At least in part, this is probably because these larger, longer-lived animals require better anti-cancer mechanisms, which means tighter control over stem cell proliferation.

How did Colossal manage it?

Specifically, they genetically engineered Asian elephant cells to permanently produce key proteins. Still, it took two months to turn the cells into induced pluripotent stem cells. “We want to make the process more efficient and faster, and I think this is a great start,” he says. Eona Hisori At Colossal. The DNA that encodes important proteins can be easily removed, she says.

So does Colossal turn these induced pluripotent stem cells into eggs and sperm?

That's the plan, but it could take years. Converting induced pluripotent stem cells into eggs and sperm is not easy. “This is primarily done in two species: mice and humans,” Church says. “And neither is perfect.”

Does that mean it could be decades before a mammoth-like elephant is produced?

Colossal claims the first “mammoth” will be born by 2028. Heisoli said the researchers aim to make just 50 to 100 gene edits in elephant cells, and that it is possible. But producing embryos in time will almost certainly require implanting the edited genome into an elephant egg using the same cloning technique used to create Dolly the sheep. An elephant's gestation period is her two years, so these embryos need to be created and implanted by her around the end of 2026.

Does cloning edited cells work?

Although it is possible, typically only a small percentage of cloned embryos develop into healthy animals. “There are always going to be attempts that fail. How many elephants should we experimentally impregnate?” asks a stem cell expert. Dusko Ilic At King&#39s College London. “Just because we have the ability to do something new doesn’t mean we should pursue it without careful consideration of the ethical implications and consequences.”

Where does this mammoth-like elephant live? Given Russia's claims about the war in Ukraine and the United States' biological weapons, isn't it highly unlikely that Russia would allow genetically reborn mammoths to be released into Siberia?

“Keep in mind that mammoths were everywhere in the Arctic, not just Siberia,” Hisori says. Alaska and Canada are also possibilities, she said, and Colossal already has “very fruitful collaborations” with government agencies, local governments and First Nations.

Why is Colossal aiming to revive the mammoth?

The company claims that rewilding the arctic regions where mammoths live will reduce permafrost thaw and reduce climate change by locking up carbon in the form of frozen organic matter. “The Arctic is a perfect place to sequester carbon because it freezes more layers of topsoil every year,” Church says. “And herbivores poop on it.”

Could mammoth-like creatures really help limit further warming in the Arctic?

That hasn’t been established yet, but there is some possibility. One small study suggests that large herbivores can lower permafrost temperatures By flattening and insulating the snow that accumulates in winter. Also, if edited elephants limit forest expansion, dark trees in previously flat, snow-covered areas could absorb more sunlight, which could have a warming effect. That would be helpful too. But it will take thousands of people to make a big impact.

Does that mean Colossal aims to have tens of thousands of these creatures roaming the North Pole?

Yes, that’s the purpose. Based on the increase in elephant population under favorable conditions, new scientist It is estimated that breeding so many mammoth-like elephants from a small initial population could take more than a century.

But Church says Colossal is developing an artificial womb that circumvents normal limitations. “So, in principle, we can do this at any scale the world wants and needs. If they don’t need it, we won’t scale up,” he says. .

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Source: www.newscientist.com

Could woolly mammoths possibly be making a comeback?

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Unlike the extinct woolly mammoth, most edited elephants with mammoth-like features lack tusks to avoid poaching for ivory.

QuangTrungArt/Shutterstock

A company founded to bring back extinct animals has announced that it has made significant progress in its goal of bringing back the woolly mammoth. On March 6, Colossal announced that its team had succeeded in converting normal elephant cells into stem cells, which could lead to the creation of mammoth-like creatures. “This is an important step,” said the company’s CEO. ben ram said in a press release. Here’s what you need to know:

Is it really possible to bring the woolly mammoth back from extinction?

No, it’s not, and it never will be. The genomes of several frozen mammoths have been sequenced, but there are many gaps. But it should be possible to edit the genome of a living elephant to make it look more like a mammoth. On its website, Colossal acknowledges that the elephant it plans to create will be a “cold-hardy elephant,” but says it will “possess all the key biological characteristics of a woolly mammoth.”

Will these edited elephants look like mammoths?

Colossal says even the sounds of mammoths are similar, but it’s unclear how humans know what a mammoth sounds like. There will be at least one major difference when it comes to their appearance. The majority do not have tusks to avoid ivory poaching, says Colossal co-founder George Church. Specimens with tusks can only be kept in strictly supervised areas.

Colossal also plans to make the mammoth-like elephants resistant to a disease called elephant endothelial-tropic herpesvirus.

Why does Colossal need to create elephant stem cells?

The company edits the genome of elephant cells to make them more similar to mammoths. But creating a living mammoth-like elephant requires producing embryos containing edited genomes. In theory, one way to do this would be to turn gene-edited elephant cells into induced pluripotent stem cells, and then turn those stem cells into eggs and sperm cells.

What are induced pluripotent stem cells?

Pluripotent stem cells can transform into any cell in the body, including eggs and sperm. They occur naturally in embryos, but can also be made from adult cells by adding certain proteins, and are therefore “induced.” These have been produced in many animal species, but until now no one had succeeded in inducing pluripotency in elephant cells.

Why is it so difficult to induce elephant cells to become pluripotent?

At least in part, perhaps, because they are large, long-lived animals, they require better anti-cancer mechanisms, which means tighter control over stem cell proliferation.

How did Colossal manage it?

Specifically, they genetically engineered Asian elephant cells to permanently produce key proteins. Still, it took two months to turn the cells into induced pluripotent stem cells. “We want to make the process more efficient and faster, and I think this is a great start,” he says. Eliana Hisori At Colossal. DNA added to cells is easily removed, she says.

So does Colossal turn these induced pluripotent stem cells into eggs and sperm?

That’s the plan, but it could take years. Converting induced pluripotent stem cells into eggs and sperm is not easy. “This is primarily done in two species: mice and humans,” Church says. “And neither is perfect.”

Does that mean it could be decades before a mammoth-like elephant is produced?

Colossal claims the first “mammoth” will be born by 2028. Heisoli said the researchers aim to make just 50 to 100 gene edits in elephant cells, and that that is possible. But producing embryos in time for this deadline will almost certainly require implanting the edited genome into an elephant egg using the same cloning technique used to create Dolly the sheep. An elephant’s gestation period is her two years, so these embryos need to be created and implanted by her around the end of 2026.

Does cloning edited cells work?

Although it is possible, typically only a few percent of cloned embryos develop into healthy animals. “There are always going to be attempts that fail. How many elephants should we experimentally impregnate?” asks a stem cell expert. Dusko Ilic At King’s College London. “Just because we have the ability to do something new doesn’t mean we should pursue it without careful consideration of the ethical implications and consequences.”

Where does this mammoth-like elephant live? Given Russia’s claims about war and US biological weapons, isn’t it highly unlikely that Russia would allow genetically reborn mammoths to be released into Siberia?

“Keep in mind that mammoths were everywhere in the Arctic, not just Siberia,” Hisori says. Alaska and Canada are also possibilities, she said, and Colossal already has “very fruitful collaborations” with government agencies, local governments and First Nations.

Why is Colossal aiming to revive the mammoth?

The company claims that rewilding the arctic regions where mammoths live will reduce permafrost thaw and reduce climate change by locking up carbon in the form of frozen organic matter. “The Arctic is a perfect place to sequester carbon because it freezes more layers of topsoil every year,” Church says. “And herbivores poop on it.”

Could mammoth-like creatures really help limit further warming in the Arctic?

That hasn’t been established yet, but there is some possibility.One small study suggests animals can lower permafrost temperatures By flattening and insulating the snow that accumulates in winter. And if these animals limit forest expansion, that could also help, as dark trees in previously flat, snow-covered areas can have a warming effect. But it will take thousands of people to make a big impact.

Does that mean Colossal aims to have tens of thousands of these creatures roaming the North Pole?

Yes, that’s the purpose. Based on the increase in elephant population under favorable conditions, new scientist It is estimated that breeding so many mammoth-like elephants from a small initial population could take more than a century.

But Church says Colossal is developing an artificial womb that circumvents normal limitations. “So, in principle, we can do this at any scale the world wants and needs. If they don’t need it, we won’t scale up,” he says. .

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Source: www.newscientist.com

Ancient Alaskan Hunter-Gatherer Camps were Linked to the Lifelong Movements of Female Woolly Mammoths

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Woolly mammoth (Mammuthus primigenius) The peoples of mainland Alaska overlapped with the first peoples of this region for at least 1,000 years. However, it is unclear how mammoths used the space they shared with humans. In a new study, scientists from the University of Alaska Fairbanks and elsewhere analyzed a 14,000-year-old female mammoth tusk discovered at an archaeological site in Fairbanks. swan point They showed that she migrated nearly 1,000 km (621 miles) from northwestern Canada to inhabit the Shaw Creek watershed in interior Alaska, an area with the highest concentration of early remains in interior Alaska. Early Alaskans appear to have built their settlements based in part on the prevalence of mammoths, utilizing them for raw materials and perhaps food.

The piece shows three mammoths being observed by an ancient Alaskan family from a sand dune near the Swan Point ruins, a seasonal hunting camp inhabited 14,000 years ago. Image credit: Julius Csostonyi.

The woolly mammoth at the center of the study, named Elmayujaye by the Healy Lake Village Council, was discovered at Swan Point, Alaska's oldest archaeological site, which also contained the remains of a juvenile mammoth and a baby.

Mammoth fossils have also been found at three other sites within 10 km of Swan Point.

In the study, University of Alaska Fairbanks researcher Audrey Rowe and her colleagues conducted detailed isotopic analysis of complete tusks and genetic analysis of the remains of many other mammoth individuals, comparing the subject's movements and similar Pieced together relationships with other mammoths in location and environment. Neighborhood.

They determined that the Swan Point area was likely the gathering place for at least two closely related but distinct maternal herds.

“This is a fascinating story about the complexity of mammoth life and behavior, about which we have little insight,” said Dr. Hendrik Poynar, director of the McMaster Center for Ancient DNA at McMaster University.

The authors sequenced the mitochondrial genomes of eight woolly mammoths found at Swan Point and other nearby sites to see if and how they were related.

They also conducted isotopic analysis of a 14,000-year-old tusk from Elmayujaye (Elma) taken from Swan Point.

“Mammoth tusks grew like tree trunks, with thin layers showing steady growth, and isotopes of different elements such as oxygen and strontium providing information about the target's movements,” the researchers said. Ta.

“The female mammoth lived most of her life in a relatively small area of ​​the Yukon Territory and died when she was about 20 years old.”

“As she grew older, she traveled more than 1,000 kilometers in just three years, settling in interior Alaska and dying near related babies and boys, suggesting that she may have been the matrilineal leader. unknown.”

“Mammoths are estimated to behave much like modern elephants, with females and young living in close-knit matrilineal herds, and adult males traveling alone or in looser groups of males. They are often thought to have a wider range than females.

The researchers extracted and analyzed ancient DNA from Elmayujay's tusks and found that the mammoth was closely related to other mammoths at the same site, and more distantly related to other mammoths at a nearby site called Holzmann. found.

“Early humans had a deep understanding of mammoths and the art of hunting them, and used mammoth habitats for scavenging and hunting detritus as raw material for tools,” the researchers said.

“In addition to the direct effects of hunting on mammoth populations, human activities and settlements have also affected mammoth populations indirectly by restricting mammoth movement and access to preferred grazing areas. There is a possibility.”

“For early people in Alaska, these areas were important for observation and viewing, as well as potential food sources,” Dr. Poyner said.

The data collected suggests that people organized seasonal hunting camps based on where mammoths congregated, and that this may have had an indirect effect on the localized extinction of mammoths in Alaska, which was further exacerbated by a rapidly changing climate and changes in vegetation. This suggests that it may have played a role.

However, such deprivation does not seem to have affected the mammoths involved.

“She was a young adult in her prime,” said Professor Matthew Wooler, director of the Alaska Stable Isotope Facility and a researcher at the University of Alaska Fairbanks.

“Her isotopes showed that she was not malnourished and that she died during the same season as the Swan Point seasonal hunting camp where her tusk was found.”

“This is more than just looking at stone tools and ruins and making assumptions. This analysis of lifetime migration is very helpful in understanding how humans and mammoths lived in these areas,” McMaster said. said Dr. Tyler Murchy, a postdoctoral fellow at the university.

a paper The findings were published in this week's magazine scientific progress.

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Audrey G. Lowe other. 2024. The female woolly mammoth's lifelong migration ends in an ancient Alaskan hunter-gatherer camp. scientific progress 10(3); doi: 10.1126/sciadv.adk0818

Source: www.sci.news