Scientists have sequenced a complete woolly rhinoceros genome from a 14,400-year-old sample of the animal's meat found in the stomach of a preserved wolf puppy. The discovery, detailed in a recent study, provides valuable insights into the population dynamics of the extinct megafauna species shortly before its disappearance.
The preserved remains of the Ice Age wolf puppy, discovered near Tumat village in Siberia, contained a partially digested chunk of meat that DNA testing identified as woolly rhinoceros. Paleogeneticist Sólveig Guðjónsdóttir and her team at Stockholm University extracted and sequenced the full genome from this sample. The analysis offers a detailed genetic snapshot of the woolly rhino, a two-metric-ton herbivore that roamed the tundras of Europe and Asia during the Pleistocene epoch.
"The completeness of the genome allows us to analyze the population structure and genetic diversity of woolly rhinos in a way that wasn't possible before," said Guðjónsdóttir. The sequenced genome provides a high-resolution view of the species' genetic makeup, revealing information about its evolutionary history and adaptation to the harsh Ice Age environment.
Woolly rhinoceroses went extinct around 10,000 years ago, coinciding with the end of the last Ice Age and the rise of human populations. The causes of their extinction are debated, with climate change and human hunting often cited as contributing factors. The new genomic data could help scientists better understand the role of genetic factors in the species' decline.
The study highlights the potential of ancient DNA analysis, even from small or degraded samples, to shed light on the past. Advances in sequencing technologies and computational methods have made it possible to recover and analyze genetic information from remains thousands of years old. This field, often aided by artificial intelligence algorithms for data processing and pattern recognition, is transforming our understanding of evolutionary history. AI algorithms assist in assembling fragmented DNA sequences and identifying genetic variations, accelerating the pace of discovery.
Researchers plan to use the woolly rhino genome to compare it with other ancient DNA samples from the species, hoping to gain a more comprehensive picture of its genetic diversity and population movements across its geographic range. This could provide clues about how woolly rhinos responded to past climate changes and inform conservation efforts for other endangered species facing similar threats today.
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