Key facts
- Ancient DNA from woolly mammoths and other extinct animals was found in frozen squirrel faeces in Canada's Yukon.
- The DNA samples are between 3,000 and 700,000 years old.
- The discovery provides insights into ecological changes over millennia.
A significant collection of ancient DNA, including genetic material from woolly mammoths, has been unearthed from frozen squirrel faeces in Canada's remote Yukon territory. Scientists announced the discovery on Tuesday, highlighting its potential to reveal how life has evolved over vast periods.
The DNA, recovered from sealed burrows, spans an age range from 3,000 to 700,000 years old. This ancient genetic material offers a rare glimpse into past ecosystems and the species that inhabited them.
In addition to woolly mammoth DNA, the samples also contained genetic material from wolves and other extinct animals. The discovery comes as the US company Colossal is reportedly working on efforts to de-extinct the woolly mammoth.