Recently, a team of geneticist researchers discovered that freeze-drying a specimen turns its genetic material into a glassy 3D structure called "chromoglass." More specifically, the team gained samples from a woolly mammoth from 52,000 years ago in Siberia that was freeze-dried and preserved in permafrost. The discovery was made using a method called "Hi-C", which allows researchers to closely examine the 3D structure of ancient mammoth's DNA. On top of seeing the DNA's chromoglass structure, the team was also able to unveil other remarkable findings in the DNA, such as genes that were turned on and off before death. Knowing data like this allows researchers to further understand how the woolly mammoth functioned.
This advancement opens new possibilities for genetic research on a molecular level. Using the chromoglass structure, the research team was able to uncover that the woolly mammoth had 28 pairs of chromosomes, which is very similar to modern elephants. There were also specific genes found in the mammoth's DNA like Egfr, which is known for regulation of skin and hair growth. When this gene is turned off it is linked to excessive hair growth. In the woolly mammoth, the gene was found to be turned off, while in elephants the gene is activated. This is likely a sign of adaptation where when the long fur of the woolly mammoth was no longer required due to the environmental conditions of the ice age, the gene likely activated leading to what we see in modern elephants.
As a whole using the Hi-C technique after freeze-drying a specimen to obtain a well-preserved chromoglass is likely a revolution in how geneticists will approach studying ancient DNA. Since using this technique allows for a deeper examination of the genes and DNA of ancient species, it is only a matter of time before the technique becomes common practice on all ancient species, not just woolly mammoths.
https://www.sciencenews.org/article/drying-woolly-mammoth-dna-3d-glass
The discovery of freeze-dried woolly mammoth DNA and its unique chromoglass structure is truly exciting, revealing interesting insights into how these ancient creatures lived and adapted. The use of the Hi-C technique not only sheds light on the mammoth's genetics but also opens up new possibilities for exploring ancient DNA in other species, making us wonder what other secrets the past might hold.
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