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Monday, November 23, 2009

Photo: Mammoth Hair Yields Ancient DNA, Study Says


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These mammoth remains taken from permafrost include preserved muscle tissue and hair. Previous techniques have allowed researchers to extract DNA from the ancient muscle and bone, but the process can take years.

Now a new study says that the animals' thick hair can be a better source of uncontaminated DNA for more quickly sequencing full genomes.

Photograph courtesy Mammuthus Lab Khatanga/Tom Gilbert