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Checking Mammoth DNA Against Elephants Hints At How They Got Hairy

Posted by samzenpus on from the ancient-snuffleupagus dept.

An anonymous reader writes: A new study on mammoth DNA comparing the hairy animals to their cousins, the Asian and African elephants, has isolated what genes separate it from its warm-weather cousins. The study found that genes controlling skin and hair development, fat metabolism, insulin signaling, and skull shape, differed from today's contemporary elephant species. "They have this weird hump on their back, which is thought to be something like a camel hump — sort of a fat deposit that stored water and energy for the cold, dark winters," says Vincent Lynch, an evolutionary biologist at the University of Chicago.

2 of 22 comments (clear)

  1. Based on my research by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Funny

    Having Googled "hairy mammoth" and visited a few search results, I've concluded I never want to Google "hairy mammoth" ever again.

  2. Re:How to revive the Mammoth species by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Funny

    I just watched a documentary on such a park in IMAX 3D last Friday. It was quite informative but lacked a dance off.

    4/5 stars