The analyses of the youngest ancient Woolly Mammoth DNA has provided some clues as to how these giant creatures finally became extinct. The last of the woolly mammoths lived as an isolated population on Wrangel Island in the Arctic Ocean around 4,000 years ago, long after environmental factors and possibly hunting had wiped mammoth from North America and Siberia over 10,000 years ago. Comparing a 4,300 year old Wrangel island specimen with that of a much older 45,000 year old individual, showed excess of bad mutations accumulating in its genome. Dr Rebekah Rogers of the University of California, Berkeley, who led the research, described it as a "genetic meltdown". A "small" isolated population resulted in inbreeding depression, exacerbating these bad mutations, which may have given the last woolly mammoths "silky, shiny satin fur". Mutations could also have led to a loss of olfactory receptors, responsible for the sense of smell, as well as substances in urine involved in social status and attracting a mate.
For this fascinating story please follow the link below:
http://www.bbc.com/news/science-environment-39142941
