Yes, this nigh-mummified pachyderm is exactly what it seems: a juvenile member of a species that faded into nothingness 5,000-9,000 years ago.
Though not the first discovery of its kind, this is only the fourth juvenile to be discovered (in ANY condition!) and this is the most preserved specimen on record, with only a damaged tail to show for its 10,000-year wait beneath the ice and snow of Siberia.
The second-best preserved mammoth on record, found in Taibyr Siberia in 1997, led one geneticist to comment "If you can get us good DNA, we'll have a baby mammoth for you in 22 months." Perhaps this statement was made in jest, or perhaps the geneticist was a bit optimistic, but with this priceless discovery (ripe with nigh-perfectly preserved mammoth DNA), I for one cannot wait to hear what scientists can report by May of 2009.
1 comments:
Is it pathetic that I'd like to see a cloned, baby mammoth?
I wonder if this specimen is the youngest of the four juveniles found. It's preservation and youth make it a good candidate for cloning.
I don't care if I am pathetic -- bring on the mammoth! ;)
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