Scientists have successfully sequenced the RNA from a 40,000-year-old woolly mammoth frozen in Siberian permafrost. The breakthrough, led by researchers at Stockholm University, has shed new light on the biology of an extinct species.
The team extracted RNA fragments from muscle tissue and other samples of nine ancient mammoths, including Yuka, which was discovered by local hunters in 2010. The process required special chemical treatments to bring out the fragile molecules, which are normally thought to be too degraded to survive even a few hours after an organism dies.
The researchers used RNA-handling methods adapted for ancient, fragmented molecules, allowing them to explore information that had never been accessible before, including which genes were active when Yuka died. The team found evidence of muscle tension and cell signaling distress in the creature's final moments, suggesting it may have died as a result of a cave lion attack.
The study reveals that RNA sequencing has lagged behind DNA analysis in terms of extracting data from ancient specimens. However, this breakthrough could open up new avenues for studying extinct species, potentially allowing researchers to detect viruses and gain insights into the biology of creatures like the dodo and great auk.
By combining DNA and RNA analysis, scientists may be able to reconstruct and validate ancient genomes, shedding light on how gene expression differs between extinct and living species. The approach also holds promise for exploring the evolution of endangered species in the past and understanding the impact of population decline on their biology.
The study published in Cell provides a new window into lost worlds and could help inform conservation efforts by providing clues that could aid in the preservation of today's threatened species.
The team extracted RNA fragments from muscle tissue and other samples of nine ancient mammoths, including Yuka, which was discovered by local hunters in 2010. The process required special chemical treatments to bring out the fragile molecules, which are normally thought to be too degraded to survive even a few hours after an organism dies.
The researchers used RNA-handling methods adapted for ancient, fragmented molecules, allowing them to explore information that had never been accessible before, including which genes were active when Yuka died. The team found evidence of muscle tension and cell signaling distress in the creature's final moments, suggesting it may have died as a result of a cave lion attack.
The study reveals that RNA sequencing has lagged behind DNA analysis in terms of extracting data from ancient specimens. However, this breakthrough could open up new avenues for studying extinct species, potentially allowing researchers to detect viruses and gain insights into the biology of creatures like the dodo and great auk.
By combining DNA and RNA analysis, scientists may be able to reconstruct and validate ancient genomes, shedding light on how gene expression differs between extinct and living species. The approach also holds promise for exploring the evolution of endangered species in the past and understanding the impact of population decline on their biology.
The study published in Cell provides a new window into lost worlds and could help inform conservation efforts by providing clues that could aid in the preservation of today's threatened species.
I'm literally shaking rn!! This is soooo cool!!! 
Scientists just found out what was happening inside a 40k yr old woolly mammoth's body when it died!!! It's like they brought back to life! 
And the craziest part is that they think it might've been killed by a cave lion?! 
That's wild! I'm obsessed with this study and can't wait for more discoveries!! 
This means we could learn so much from extinct animals and help save endangered species like the dodo and great auk 
It's like, totally mind blown!!! 
40k yrs old mammoth rn is wild tho! i mean, can u imagine having that kinda info on ancient animals? its crazy that we didnt have tech for it before... now we can learn so much more about the past & how our planet has changed 
. and maybe, just maybe, this can help us figure out what went wrong with those dodos & great auks too 
i'm lowkey obsessed with this study, can you imagine what kinda genes were active when Yuka died? was she living her best life or did she get taken down by that cave lion 
I mean, can you even imagine what it must've been like to be in the permafrost with those creatures all that time ago? The fact that they were able to extract RNA from them is just mind-blowing. I'm hyped for what this could potentially reveal about ancient biology and how we can use it to help conservation efforts! 
Maybe one day we'll be able to bring back some extinct species in a way... that would be CRAZY!!!
I'm so stoked about this breakthrough! Scientists have been trying to figure out what went down when Yuka, the 40k-year-old woolly mammoth, kicked the bucket 
. The fact that researchers were able to extract RNA from those ancient samples is mind-blowing 
and great auk 
. This opens up some wild possibilities for studying extinct species, not just mammoths either, could be like, dodos, great auks too 
.
I mean, if RNA's that sensitive, why are they even able to get anything out of those ancient samples without them just disintegrating into nothingness?
it's so cool that scientists are using this tech to try and understand extinct species better. maybe we can even figure out ways to preserve endangered ones too 
! Scientists are literally bringing back time 
and studying extinct creatures like they're still alive 
I'm just imagining what it would be like to see a woolly mammoth roam the Earth right now... 
. I can only imagine how it would feel to be a creature that's been extinct for so long... 
It's like we're finally getting to know them on a human level 
. This study could really help us learn more about the past and how we can protect our planet today 
