Scientists map mammoth genome
Scientists have been able to map the majority of the ancient woolly mammoth genome by using DNA taken from preserved mammoth hair.
DNA sequencing of small fragments of mammoth DNA has enabled the genome to be slowly discovered, thus allowing the entirety to be eventually mapped. Consequently, this allows insight into revealing the mammoths’ evolutionary history. However, the DNA within the hair may have succumbed to various forms of contamination by bacteria and microbes, making the DNA sequencing somewhat difficult.
The subsequent cloning of the mammoth may be undertaken by inserting mammoth DNA into the genome of the modern day elephant. The genetic sequence unique to the mammoth would be fused to the egg of the elephant and placed within the female. Also, in vitro fertilisation may be another method to clone these once extinct animals that roamed the earth.
However, controversy does arise concerning whether we should resurrect these and possibly other earlier organisms of our past. This leads to questioning the reality of the Jurassic Park movies. Is resurrecting not only the mammoths, but the ancient dinosaurs a reality that our modern-day world is facing?
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