JURASSIC Park got a little bit closer to reality today with news that scientists are ‘confident’ of cloning a 42,000 year old extinct species.
The ginger-coloured foal died when it was just one or two weeks old, some time during the late Stone Age, around 42,170 years ago.
But its body has been perfectly preserved in near perfect condition in Siberian permafrost, and scientists are optimistic that they will obtain enough genetic material to clone the animal and bring its extinct species back to life.
The joint Russian-South Korean research team is led by South Korean cloning expert Professor Hwang Woo-suk, who is also closely involved in efforts to revive the woolly mammoth using cells taken from features preserved in the Siberian ice.
The foal is an example of the cold-resistant Lenskaya breed which died out some 4,000 years ago.
“Everyone is positive about the outcome”
Dr Lena Grigoryeva
“Researchers are confident of success of the project,” said a source at the North East Federal University in Yakutsk – the world’s coldest city – which is hosting the work, reports The Siberian Times .
“The attempts will continue until the end of April this year.”
Work is so advanced that the team are already selecting a surrogate mother for the ancient horse.
PRECEDENT: The experiment could pave the way for the reintroduction of the woolly mammoth (Pic: The Siberian Times)
She said that once successfully cloned, the embryo will be implanted in a Korean horse.
“The Korean horse will fit in perfectly,” she said. “They have been used in cloning for a while and the technology is mastered to perfection.
“Besides, the Korean horse is quite ancient too.
“It is a successor of Mongolian horse.”
Yakut horses are a hardy breed which can survive temperatures as low as minus 60ºC.
Original Article:https://www.dailystar.co.uk/news/world-news/770952/url-jurassic-park-horse-closing-mammoth-siberia-permafrost
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Jasper and Sardine 