Ancient DNA Unveils Oldest Known North American Woolly Mammoth

Introduction

A groundbreaking discovery has pushed back the timeline of woolly mammoths in North America by over 100,000 years. Scientists have identified the continent’s oldest-known woolly mammoth through ancient DNA analysis, offering new insights into the species’ migration and evolution.

Discovery Along the Old Crow River

Researchers uncovered a 216,000-year-old woolly mammoth tooth along the Old Crow River in Yukon, Canada. This specimen, now the oldest confirmed woolly mammoth fossil in North America, challenges previous beliefs about the species’ arrival on the continent.

📄 Related Link: Understanding Mammoth Migration Patterns

Genetic Analysis and Findings

The team extracted mitochondrial DNA from the tooth, placing it among the oldest samples in their study. While not the oldest globally—that title belongs to a 1.3 million-year-old sample from Russia—the Old Crow mammoth’s DNA provides valuable information about the species’ genetic diversity and evolutionary history.

🧠 Related Link: Deep-Time DNA: Exploring Ancient Genomes

Implications for Mammoth Evolution

This discovery suggests that woolly mammoths migrated into North America much earlier than previously thought. The findings also reveal “long-lost” genetic diversity, indicating complex evolutionary pathways and adaptations over time.

🔍 Related Link: Mammoth Evolution: A Complex Journey

Conclusion

The identification of the Old Crow mammoth not only rewrites the timeline of woolly mammoths in North America but also underscores the importance of ancient DNA in unraveling the mysteries of prehistoric life.