Groundbreaking Discovery Unearths 39,000-year RNA of Woolly Mammoth

In Brief

• Researchers have discovered RNA from a 39,000-year-old woolly mammoth, making it the oldest RNA ever analyzed in a study.
• The study yielded new biological insights about the specimen and revealed previously unknown microRNAs.
• The findings highlight a surge of interest in ancient genetic materials and sparked more interest in studying our past.

Shedrach Kongvong 2025-11-17

Scientists have discovered a 39,000 year old RNA belonging to an extinct woolly mammoth. The RNA which has been sequenced was found to belong to the animal called Yuka which was only discovered about a decade ago. RNA (ribonucleic acid) plays a central role in how cells use and regulate the genetic information stored in DNA (deoxyribonucleic acid).

According to report, the RNA breaks record as the oldest preserved RNA that has ever been sequenced being nearly three times older than the previous record holder.

The research team led by Emilio Mármol-Sánchez has ignited a whole lot of interest in the study of ancient RNAs which hasn’t received much attention until now.

RNA Leads to Groundbreaking Revelations

The team studied the RNA of Yuka as the only one perfectly preserved out of 10 extracted DNAs of Wooly Mammoths.

They found the mammoth to be a male, which contradicted an earlier study suggesting that the animal was a female based on physical attributes.

They also discovered two novel microRNAs which had never been reported in any animal, adding to the scope of discovery. Commenting on the discovery, Oliver Smith, a paleontologist at Micropathology Ltd said:

“It’s groundbreaking. I think a lot of people would be surprised that you can get RNA that old. People thought it was not possible to [get RNA] from anything that old, and I kind of wanted to prove them wrong.”

Scientists Making Significant Discoveries

Scientists have made several major discoveries recently with the advances in science and paleontology, opening our eyes to the past.

Another recent discovery of an ancient human skull has made scientists question evolution as we know it because it points to people that existed before the start of evolution.

With the growing interest in ancient RNAs, there will likely be more mindblowing discoveries going forward as scientists continue to dig deeper into our planet’s past.