ZME Science
No Result
View All Result
ZME Science
No Result
View All Result
ZME Science

Home → Science

Ancient mammoth genome found in Siberia is the oldest ancient DNA

Tibi PuiubyTibi Puiu
February 17, 2021
in Science
A A
Share on FacebookShare on TwitterSubmit to Reddit
Illustration Krestovka mammoths. Credit: Beth Zaiken/Centre for Palaeogenetics

Scientists have pushed technology to its limits after they managed to sequence the genome of a mammoth tooth that’s more than a million years old. Officially, this is the oldest DNA sequenced thus far — by a long shot.

The million-year-old genome is finally upon us

In 2013, scientists sequenced the genome for the previous record-holder, DNA from a 780,000-year-old horse leg bone. Finding other similarly ancient genomes, however, is challenging work because DNA strands become increasingly small with time after an organism perishes. You need extraordinary circumstances to preserve DNA this old.

As luck would have it, the Siberian permafrost, whose frigid but constant temperature slows down DNA fragmentation, is exactly the right environment for preserving ancient genomes. And what scientists found there completely shattered any previous records.

The international team of researchers isolated DNA from molars belonging to three separate mammoths discovered in the Siberian permafrost in the 1970s. The oldest of the batch was dated back to between 1.2 million and 1.6 million years ago.

The mammoth molars from which the ancient DNA was extracted. Credit: Pavel Nikolsky.

But although the permafrost helped extend the genome’s lifespan, the samples contained very little DNA. Luckily, the researchers led by Love Dalén, an evolutionary geneticist at the Swedish Museum of Natural History (SMNH) in Stockholm, employed state-of-the-art genome sequencing that enabled them to recover a workable number of base pairs of nuclear DNA.

The ancient genome sequence revealed several interesting things. The oldest genome belonged to a type of mammoth that diverged from other known Siberian mammoth species more than a million years ago. Scientists named it the Krestovka mammoth in honor of the region where it was initially found.

These findings were totally surprising because all previous research suggested that Siberia was home to a single species of a mammoth at that point in time, known as the steppe mammoth. Researchers don’t know for sure if these molars belonged to a different species, but it sure looks like it at this point.

RelatedPosts

3D printing in space might save astronauts a whole lot of trouble
Ancient 385-million-year old Fish pioneered Sex
Ancient shred of Israeli fabric reveals the secrets of “royal purple”
Scientists manage to keep proteins ‘alive’ outside cells

Given the timeline, the researchers also believe this previously unknown lineage may have seeded the North American population some 1.5 million years ago.

Once it became isolated in North America, this ancestral line diverged further. The researchers found that Columbian mammoths trace half their ancestry to the Krestovka lineage, while the other half comes from the wooly mammoths.

These are pretty powerful findings, perhaps foretelling of what’s in store for the future. Now that scientists have crossed the one million-year mark, there’s no telling what ancient DNA can reveal about long-lost species. For instance, Dalén’s lab is now working with very old samples of musk oxen, mooses and lemmings.

With the right tools and more than a bit of luck, perhaps scientists may one-day sequence million-year-old genomes from ancient human relatives. That’s when things would really become interesting.

The findings appeared in the journal Nature.

ShareTweetShare
Tibi Puiu

Tibi Puiu

Tibi is a science journalist and co-founder of ZME Science. He writes mainly about emerging tech, physics, climate, and space. In his spare time, Tibi likes to make weird music on his computer and groom felines. He has a B.Sc in mechanical engineering and an M.Sc in renewable energy systems.

Related Posts

Genetics

Scientists Blasted Human Cells With 5G Radiation and the Results Are In

byTibi Puiu
11 hours ago
Genetics

Orange Cats Are Genetically Unlike Any Other Mammal and Now We Know Why

byTibi Puiu
11 hours ago
Chemistry

Scientists Found ‘Anti Spicy’ Compounds That Make Hot Peppers Taste Milder

byTibi Puiu
12 hours ago
Economics

In 2019, Iceland started experimenting with a shorter workweek. It’s been a resounding success

byMihai Andrei
13 hours ago

Recent news

Scientists Blasted Human Cells With 5G Radiation and the Results Are In

May 15, 2025

Orange Cats Are Genetically Unlike Any Other Mammal and Now We Know Why

May 15, 2025

Scientists Found ‘Anti Spicy’ Compounds That Make Hot Peppers Taste Milder

May 15, 2025
  • About
  • Advertise
  • Editorial Policy
  • Privacy Policy and Terms of Use
  • How we review products
  • Contact

© 2007-2025 ZME Science - Not exactly rocket science. All Rights Reserved.

No Result
View All Result
  • Science News
  • Environment
  • Health
  • Space
  • Future
  • Features
    • Natural Sciences
    • Physics
      • Matter and Energy
      • Quantum Mechanics
      • Thermodynamics
    • Chemistry
      • Periodic Table
      • Applied Chemistry
      • Materials
      • Physical Chemistry
    • Biology
      • Anatomy
      • Biochemistry
      • Ecology
      • Genetics
      • Microbiology
      • Plants and Fungi
    • Geology and Paleontology
      • Planet Earth
      • Earth Dynamics
      • Rocks and Minerals
      • Volcanoes
      • Dinosaurs
      • Fossils
    • Animals
      • Mammals
      • Birds
      • Fish
      • Amphibians
      • Reptiles
      • Invertebrates
      • Pets
      • Conservation
      • Animal facts
    • Climate and Weather
      • Climate change
      • Weather and atmosphere
    • Health
      • Drugs
      • Diseases and Conditions
      • Human Body
      • Mind and Brain
      • Food and Nutrition
      • Wellness
    • History and Humanities
      • Anthropology
      • Archaeology
      • History
      • Economics
      • People
      • Sociology
    • Space & Astronomy
      • The Solar System
      • Sun
      • The Moon
      • Planets
      • Asteroids, meteors & comets
      • Astronomy
      • Astrophysics
      • Cosmology
      • Exoplanets & Alien Life
      • Spaceflight and Exploration
    • Technology
      • Computer Science & IT
      • Engineering
      • Inventions
      • Sustainability
      • Renewable Energy
      • Green Living
    • Culture
    • Resources
  • Videos
  • Reviews
  • About Us
    • About
    • The Team
    • Advertise
    • Contribute
    • Editorial policy
    • Privacy Policy
    • Contact

© 2007-2025 ZME Science - Not exactly rocket science. All Rights Reserved.