The secret that a young mammoth had kept for thousands of years in the frozen lands of Siberia has finally come to light. Scientists, by successfully extracting RNA, which usually disappears within hours, from a 40,000-year-old glacial body, have not only surpassed their own expectations but also turned the boundaries of the scientific world upside down.
The scientific community is currently watching in utter astonishment.
Extracting RNA, which typically vanishes a few hours after death, from such an ancient creature has long been considered an impossible task. However, a team from Stockholm University has successfully sequenced these molecules by processing Yuka's muscle and tissue samples using specialized methods.
This strengthens the speculation that has been discussed for years: Yuka most likely met her demise due to an attack by a cave lion.
This snapshot of biological information, which DNA couldn't provide, was clearly seen for the first time thanks to RNA. As Emilio Mármol, who led the study, put it, 'RNA is telling us the story of the moment of death.'
Yuka, known as 'the female,' was actually male
Another surprise was that Yuka, who had been presumed female for years based on outward appearance, was found to have a Y chromosome in both DNA and RNA analyses. In other words, Yuka was actually male.
The reason for the initial misinterpretation is unclear; it could be due to an anatomical error or a developmental anomaly, but there is no evidence to support either theory.
Yuka's sample nearly triples this.
Given the fragile nature of RNA, its preservation outside of frozen conditions is challenging. However, the impeccably preserved tissues of Yuka have managed to overcome this obstacle.
Thanks to this achievement, researchers can now access the RNA of other extinct species. It may even become possible to determine whether these animals were carrying RNA viruses similar to influenza before their death.
What is the scientific community anticipating?
Experts suggest that this method has opened a new window for many extinct species. Species that lived in cold regions like the Tasmanian tiger, dodo, moa, and cave lion are among the next candidates.
In short, even after being frozen for 40,000 years, Yuka has once again made its mark in history by providing scientists with a biological record of the moment of death.