Researchers Reconstruct 52,000-Year-Old Woolly Mammoth Genome

Researchers have successfully reconstructed the 3D structures of a woolly mammoth genome from a 52,000-year-old specimen found in Siberia, showcasing intact hair follicles and muscle shapes. This groundbreaking analysis, published in the journal Cell, revealed 28 chromosomes for the woolly mammoth, resembling those of modern elephants. The discovery, led by scientists like Erez Lieberman Aiden, utilized the Hi-C technique to map the genome's structure, offering insights into genetic information storage and duplication. The find, including subfossils of ancient chromosomes, provides unprecedented details about gene activity, potentially advancing de-extinction efforts and reshaping the understanding of ancient DNA studies.