US EditionScientists Sequence Woolly Rhino Genome From 14,400-Year-Old Wolf Pup Stomach
Genome sequencing from a 14,400-year-old wolf pup's stomach tissue reveals woolly rhinos stayed genetically healthy until rapid climate warming caused their extinction.
- On Wednesday, Centre for Palaeogenetics scientists sequenced a complete woolly rhinoceros genome from tissue inside a Tumat‑1 wolf pup dated around 14,400 years old.
- By comparing late‑stage genomes, researchers report woolly rhinoceros remained viable for 15,000 years after first humans in northeastern Siberia, suggesting climate warming likely caused their rapid population collapse.
- Researchers compared the Tumat rhino genome to two older specimens dated about 18,000 and about 49,000 years ago, overcoming wolf DNA contamination and finding no increase in harmful mutations or inbreeding.
- Researchers say the result offers conservation insights, as recovering genomes from individuals before extinction can guide endangered species protection, Sölveig M. Guðjónsdóttir said extracting the genome was exciting but challenging during her master's thesis.
- Population reconstructions show a sharp decline from about 15,600 to about 1,600 individuals between 114,000 and 63,000 years ago, with range contraction eastward since around 35,000 years ago to northeastern Siberia.
57 Articles
57 Articles
Researchers at the Swedish Center for Paleogenetics have managed to analyze DNA from an extinct woolly rhinoceros – which was found in the stomach of a frozen prehistoric wolf pup. The find provides new clues about how the ice age rhinoceros became extinct.
DNA from wolf pup's last meal reveals new facts about woolly rhino's extinction
The woolly rhino, Coelodonta antiquitatis, would have been an impressive sight to the ancient people who painted images of them on cave walls and carved figurines of them out of bone, antler, ivory and wood.
Ancient Wolf Pup's Meal Shows How Woolly Rhinos Vanished
Scientists learned a lot about one of the last generations of woolly rhinocheros—from a chunk of meat swallowed by a wolf pup some 14,400 years ago. The mummified body of a 2-month-old female wolf, discovered in 2011 in the Siberian permafrost near the village of Tumat, had her...
Coverage Details
Bias Distribution
- 54% of the sources are Center
Factuality
To view factuality data please Upgrade to Premium
