Wooly mammoth why is it extinct

They resurrected genes from this mammoth in the laboratory to find clues about the demise of this illustrious Ice Age species. Most woolly mammoths went extinct roughly 10, years ago amid a warming climate and widespread human hunting.

But isolated populations survived for thousands of years after that on St. The Wrangel Island population was the last, disappearing roughly 4, years ago. Sometimes mutations don't necessarily have an affect.

But in this case, the mutated genes had a detrimental effect on what is thought to be the last living mammoth population. The cause of extinction for these island mammoths is unknown, but researchers do know they suffered a rapid population decline due to their isolation. The small population would have led to inbreeding and reduced genetic diversity, according to the study. Ancient traps containing remains of 14 mammoths discovered in Mexican city.

They found that the mutations would have affected a variety of areas for the mammoths in their last days. The researchers identified the altered genes of the Wrangel Island mammoth and inserted them into living cells to test how the mutations interacted.

To resurrect the mammoth gene, the researchers grew cells in a lab and tested whether the smell gene functions normally in those cells. The reduction in smell would make it more difficult for them to locate their food source.

And the researchers also found evidence that they suffered from insulin signaling, causing diabetes. Scientists have found a million-year-old shark's head fossilized in a Kentucky cave. No one wants to end up rulers of an empire but crippled like the Habsburgs! The finding showing that climate change has impacted wildlife just as human civilization was beginning shows how unpredictable it is, Willerslev said.

A recent report by the United Nations said wild weather events will happen more frequently in the future, which could mean animals could experience the same fate as the woolly mammoth, something Willerslev believes can "easily happen again. While it's been thousands of years since a woolly mammoth roamed Earth, they could make a comeback. A technology company is trying to use gene-editing to hopefully bring the animal back to life.

Climate change, not humans, was reason woolly mammoths went extinct, research suggests. Show Caption. Hide Caption. Giant triceratops fossil goes up for auction.