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Ancient DNA traces the woolly mammoth's disappearance
June 08, 2007Some ancient-DNA evidence has offered new clues to a very cold case: the disappearance of the last woolly mammoths, one of the most iconic of all Ice Age giants, according to a June 7th report published online in Current Biology, a publication of Cell Press.
DNA lifted from the bones, teeth, and tusks of the extinct mammoths revealed a "genetic signature" of a range expansion after the last interglacial period. After the mammoths' migration, the population apparently leveled off, and one of two lineages died out.
"In combination with the results on other species, a picture is emerging of extinction not as a sudden event at the end of the last ice age, but as a piecemeal process over tens of thousands of years involving progressive loss of genetic diversity," said Dr. Ian Barnes, of Royal Holloway, University of London. "For the mammoth, this seems much more likely to have been driven by environmental rather than human causes, even if humans might have been responsible for killing off the small, terminal populations that were left."
Barnes, along with Dr. Adrian Lister of the University College London and the Natural History Museum in London and others, had earlier found evidence that bison, bears, and lions underwent major population shifts twenty-five to fifty thousand years ago. Those results came as a surprise, the researchers said, because scientists tended to think that the major environmental changes happened about fifteen to twenty-five thousand years ago, when the glaciers reached their fullest extent. The findings also offered early human hunters a potential alibi; they didn't come on the scene in large numbers until even later.
In search of a general pattern in the new study, Barnes and Lister's team looked to the extinct woolly mammoth. What they found, however, was an "interesting pattern, not like those of the other species."
Their genetic data indicate that Siberian mammoths expanded from a small base some time before sixty thousand years ago. Moreover, they found two distinct genetic groups, implying that mammoths had diverged in isolation for some time before merging back into a single population. The DNA further suggests that no later than forty thousand years ago, one of the groups died out, leaving only the second alive at the time of the mammoth's last gasp.
"At a time when we should be very concerned about the potential extinction of many existing large mammals, studying those that occurred in the geologically recent past can provide many insights," Lister said. "Our work, together with that of others, shows that the conditions for extinction can be set up long before the actual extinction event."
Cell Press
Barnes, along with Dr. Adrian Lister of the University College London and the Natural History Museum in London and others, had earlier found evidence that bison, bears, and lions underwent major population shifts twenty-five to fifty thousand years ago. Those results came as a surprise, the researchers said, because scientists tended to think that the major environmental changes happened about fifteen to twenty-five thousand years ago, when the glaciers reached their fullest extent. The findings also offered early human hunters a potential alibi; they didn't come on the scene in large numbers until even later.
In search of a general pattern in the new study, Barnes and Lister's team looked to the extinct woolly mammoth. What they found, however, was an "interesting pattern, not like those of the other species."
Their genetic data indicate that Siberian mammoths expanded from a small base some time before sixty thousand years ago. Moreover, they found two distinct genetic groups, implying that mammoths had diverged in isolation for some time before merging back into a single population. The DNA further suggests that no later than forty thousand years ago, one of the groups died out, leaving only the second alive at the time of the mammoth's last gasp.
"At a time when we should be very concerned about the potential extinction of many existing large mammals, studying those that occurred in the geologically recent past can provide many insights," Lister said. "Our work, together with that of others, shows that the conditions for extinction can be set up long before the actual extinction event."
Cell Press
Woolly Mammoth Current Events and Woolly Mammoth News RSS13,000 Clovis-era tool cache unearthed in Colorado shows evidence of camel, horse butchering
A biochemical analysis of a rare Clovis-era stone tool cache recently unearthed in the city limits of Boulder, Colo., indicates some of the implements were used to butcher ice-age camels and horses that roamed North America until their extinction about 13,000 years ago, according to a University of Colorado at Boulder study.
Woolly-Mammoth Gene Study Changes Extinction Theory
A large genetic study of the extinct woolly mammoth has revealed that the species was not one large homogenous group, as scientists previously had assumed, and that it did not have much genetic diversity.
Back to the future: Mastodon extends the time limit on DNA sequencing
In a new paper in the open access journal PLoS Biology, Michael Hofreiter from the Max Planck Institute for Evolutionary Anthropology in Germany, and colleagues from Switzerland and the United States, announce the sequencing of the complete mitochondrial genome of the mastodon (Mammut americanum), a recently extinct relative of the living elephants that diverged about 26 million years ago.
Woolly mammoth genome comes to life
A McMaster University geneticist, in collaboration with genome researchers from Penn State University and the American Museum of Natural History has made history by mapping a portion of the woolly mammoth's genome.
Scientists sequence DNA of woolly mammoth
Experts in ancient DNA from McMaster University (Canada) have teamed up with genome researchers from Penn State University (USA) for the investigation of permafrost bone samples from Siberia.
Small species back-up giant marsupial climate change extinction claim
Thinking small in a time when everything was big has helped Queensland researchers to unearth new evidence that climate change, instead of humans, was responsible for wiping out Australian giant marsupials or megafauna 40,000 years ago.
Old bones unearth new date for giant deer's last stand
A new investigation into extinctions caused by climate change has revealed that the giant deer, previously thought to have been wiped out by a cold spell 10,500 years ago, instead survived well into the modern era.
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Mammoths on the Move by Lisa Wheeler (Author), Kurt Cyrus (Illustrator) Join a pack of woolly mammoths as they trek south for the winter, braving fierce storms, deadly predators, and raging rivers while making their slow journey across the gorgeous unspoiled lands of this continent until finally they reach their goal. With the same jouncy and joyous rhythms of her youngest picture book texts, Lisa Wheeler introduces readers to one of the most awesome beasts to ever walk the earth: the massive, hairy--legendary--wonderful woolly mammoth! This factually based book includes an author's note. |
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Woolly Mammoth by Mick Manning (Illustrator), Brita Granstrom (Illustrator) What was life like for the woolly mammoth, who roamed the Earth starting over 100,000 years ago? What did these big shaggy beasts eat? Did they have enemies? Did they have families? Did they have fun? In this book, Mick Manning and Brita Granström show that woolly mammoths were the powerhouses of their time, braving terrible climates and fending off natural predators, the most terrifying of which were human beings! These fascinating creatures appear in their natural habitat, grazing, fighting, and even relaxing and playing with their mates and offspring. Fact-checked by mammoth expert Professor Adrian Lister, the book highlights the latest discoveries about the species and includes a glossary, an illustrative fact strip, and a geological timeline. The authors’ trademark poetic text and... |
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Carnegie Collection- Woolly Mammoth by Safari Part of the Safari Ltd. Carnegie Museum Dinosaur collection, replicas researched and authenticated by the paleontologists of the Carnegie Museum of Natural History, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. Each is either 1:20 or 1:40 scale. This Woolly Mammoth replica measures 8 inches long, 5.5 inches long. |
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Uncovering the Mysterious Woolly Mammoth by Michael Oard (Author) Woolly mammoths have fascinated adults and children alike for decades. How did so many get preserved in ice, why did they go extinct, and how did they live? These are questions that many have asked, and the answers given are usually in line with an evolutionary world view. But is this the only answer? Is there a better explanation for the evidences found in the remains of these unique creatures? What is a believer in the young age of the earth to do when confronted with these questions? Author Mike Oard gives answers to these questions for young readers. He also gives fascinating facts about these hairy, elephant-like creatures, in this sequel to Life in the Great Ice Age. Oard tells the story of how they disappeared from the earth as a result of entrapment in the ice and snow that... |
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Mental Woolly Mammoth Ski Hat - Adult - Assorted by Mental The Woolly Mammoth may be extinct, but you can bring life back to this ice age mammal on the slopes. The Woolly Mammoth hat by Mental is a great ski hat. This unique hat is one of the original craze fleece winter hat designs by Mental Headgear. The Woolly Mammoth ski hat is made with funspun non-pilling 100% polyester fleece and faux fur. It also has the Mental Headgear logo embroidered inside of an oval to let your friends know Mental creates the most fun ski hats around. Model Year: 2010, Product ID: 177833 |
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Woolly Mammoth (pob) by Windsor Chorlton (Author) Buried in the permafrost of Siberia for more than twenty thousand years, the Jarkov mammoth has recently been unearthed. In this fascinating book, readers are given an in-depth account of the woolly mammoth¹s existence and extinction. Packed with fascinating facts and gripping, full-color action photos of the expedition scientists took in Siberia, this book is a must-read for any child interested in our planet¹s icy past! |
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crocs Woolly Mammoth Clog,Black/Charcoal,9 M/Wo11 M by crocs |
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Plush Woolly Mammoth Cuddlekin 12" by Wild Republic WeÌre busy adding products and product descriptions. A description hasnÌt been added to this product yet, but itÌs coming very soon. If you have any questions, please visit our Help section. You may also click here to contact us or click the chat live banner in the left column of this page. Our products are made by top manufacturers who care about toy safety, quality and value. Your order will ship factory fresh directly from our warehouse to your door. We carefully inspect and beautifully package every order before shipment to ensure that you receive high quality products that are delivered accurately every time you order. We want you to be completely satisfied with your order. We stand behind every product we sell with a full money back guarantee. If youÌre not completely... |
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