Return of the woolly mammoth: Scientists take giant step towards recreating extinct beast after inserting 14 genes into elephants

A huge step towards recreating the woolly mammoth has been taken by scientists who inserted more than a dozen of its genes into the live DNA of an elephant.

Researchers studied the structure of DNA from mammoths preserved in the Arctic to reproduce exact copies of 14 of the extinct animal’s genes.

These were then integrated by experts at Harvard University in Massachusetts into the elephant genome - and functioned as normal DNA.



Recreation: Researchers studied the structure of DNA from woolly mammoths (file illustration) preserved in the Arctic to reproduce exact copies of 14 of the extinct animal’s genes

A new method known as 'Crispr' - helping scientists make accurate changes to DNA - was used by genetics professor George Church, who replaced parts of elephant DNA with the mammoth genes.

Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sciencetech/article-3006260/Return-woolly-mammoth-Scientists-giant-step-recreating-extinct-beast-inserting-14-genes-elephants.html#ixzz3VGXDwyj5



Credit to Mail online