In An Unprecedented Breakthrough, Scientists Have 'Revived' Old Woolly Mammoth Cells

Apr 25, 2019 by apost team

Woolly mammoths are extinct...or are they? The ancient creatures have been gone for a few thousand years now, but that could change. How? Science!

According to the research published in Scientific Reports, the 28,000-year-old mammoth was discovered frozen in icy Siberia. Because she was frozen, she was also well-preserved.

Scientists took tissue and bone marrow from Yuka. Using nuclear transfer, they were able to inject Yuka's tissue into mouse cells. The scientists then watched to see what would happen to Yuka's dormant cells. To everyone's shock, the process revived the woolly mammoth's cells. It's possible that the species itself could be revived.

apost.com

Akira Iritani spent nearly 20 years searching for dormant woolly mammoth cells. He dreamed of being able to resurrect the species.

He'd almost given up hope. Because of his advancing age, he figured that he would likely pass away before he got his chance. Yuka changed everything.

Iritani was watching the cells late one night when they began to move. He was overjoyed. He felt as if Yuka had been waiting for him to discover her.

Don't go looking for woolly mammoths in zoos just yet, though. This is a huge step in reviving them, but science isn't quite there yet. Scientists need more samples of their DNA, and that DNA needs to be in a pristine state. It will also take some improvements in nuclear transfer technology to begin cloning the DNA.

Do you think we'll see living woolly mammoths in our lifetime? What extinct species would you choose to revive if you could? Let us know in the comments and don't forget to spread the news to your friends!