JOURNAL ARTICLE

The world’s oldest ever RNA sample.

  • Published In: New Scientist, 2025, v. 268, n. 3570. P. 6 1 of 3

  • Database: Academic Search Ultimate 2 of 3

  • Authored By: Woodford, James 3 of 3

Abstract

The article discusses the extraction of the world's oldest RNA from a well-preserved woolly mammoth, nicknamed Yuka, which was frozen in Siberian permafrost for nearly 40,000 years. Researchers successfully retrieved RNA from Yuka's leg, significantly surpassing the previous record of 14,000-year-old RNA from a wolf. The study revealed that Yuka, initially thought to be a juvenile female, was actually a male and showed gene activity related to muscle metabolism and stress, suggesting he died from a cave lion attack. While the findings provide insights into the genetic traits of woolly mammoths, they do not directly contribute to efforts for de-extinction. [Extracted from the article]

Additional Information

  • Source:New Scientist. 2025/11, Vol. 268, Issue 3570, p6
  • Document Type:Article
  • Subject Area:History
  • Publication Date:2025
  • ISSN:0262-4079
  • DOI:10.1016/s0262-4079(25)01883-4
  • Accession Number:189398916
  • Copyright Statement:Copyright of New Scientist is the property of New Scientist Ltd. and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites without the copyright holder's express written permission. Additionally, content may not be used with any artificial intelligence tools or machine learning technologies. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Looking to go deeper into this topic? Look for more articles on EBSCOhost.