In
a groundbreaking scientific experiment, cells from a woolly mammoth that
perished approximately 28,000 years ago have exhibited "signs of
life."
Image
source: Kindai University
Unearthed
from the Siberian permafrost in 2011, the juvenile woolly mammoth made
headlines due to its relatively intact state. Given that the species had been
extinct for approximately 4,000 years, the discovery of a specimen dating back
28,000 years was particularly significant.
Subsequently,
scientists have been keen to assess the viability of the biological materials
from the unearthed mammoth after millennia. Now, researchers at Kindai
University in Japan have discovered that its DNA remains partially intact.
Apparently, they are well on their way to potentially resurrecting this
colossal prehistoric mammal.
Should
they succeed, the outcome might resemble this (initially).
Model
depicting mammoth calf, Stuttgart. Image source: Apotea
Ultimately,
the key lies in the achievement of the university scientists who have
successfully isolated nuclei from the mammoth's cells and implanted them into
mouse oocytes—cells located in ovaries capable of developing into an egg cell
following genetic division.
After
that, the cells from the 28,000-year-old specimen started to show “signs of
biological activities.”
A
time-lapse of mouse oocyte cells injected with mammoth nuclei. Kindai
University/Scientific Reports
“This
suggests that, despite the years that have passed, cell activity can still
happen and parts of it can be recreated,” said study author Kei Miyamoto from
the Department of Genetic Engineering at Kindai University.
Remarkably,
five of the cells exhibited highly unexpected and remarkably promising
outcomes, displaying signs of activity typically observed just before cell
division.
Frozen
mammoth calf “Lyuba” – it still had food in its stomach, Royal BC
Museum. Image source: Ruth
Hartnup
Determining
the functionality of the mammoth DNA proved to be a challenging endeavor.
Researchers initiated the process by extracting bone marrow and muscle tissue
samples from the mammoth's leg. Subsequently, these samples underwent analysis
to identify intact nucleus-like structures, which were then carefully
extracted.
After
merging these nuclei cells with mouse oocytes and introducing mouse proteins,
it became evident that certain mammoth cells could undergo nuclear
reconstitution proficiently. This crucially indicated that even mammoth remains
dating back 28,000 years might contain active nuclei.
In
essence, this suggests that the resurrection of a specimen such as this one
could indeed be within reach.
Royal
Victoria Museum, Victoria, British Columbia, Canada, 2018
Miyamoto
acknowledges that "recreating a mammoth is still a long way off," but
numerous researchers engaged in gene editing pursuits remain optimistic that
such a feat is within reach. Recent endeavors, employing the controversial
CRISPR gene editing tool, are arguably the most promising developments to date.
But
do we really need to resurrect a species that went extint a long time ago?
Sources:
2.
https://allthatsinteresting.com/reanimated-woolly-mammoth-cells
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