Mammoth Genome Decoded – Clones on the Way?
Whole-genome shotgun sequencing of mitochondria from ancient hair shafts
The news article is about a new technique in which the mammoth DNA is sequenced using hair shafts instead of bone, where the DNA is less damaged. This offers better, more accurate sequences. Because there is so much mammoth DNA, it would take a while to resequence the DNA but the promise that this information contains is without bounds. The new method may lead to the actual cloning of mammoth DNA to bring the species back to life.
1) 1. The article claims that the Stephan Schuster’s team has found a more effective way of sequencing mammoth DNA and that the maybe able to clone a living mammoth. The original article does claim to have to have used a more efficient and accurate way of cracking the mammoth genome but it does not mention bringing back the extinct species.
2) 2. Yes, the article does mention the possible use of hair shafts as offering a better DNA sample. Though it does go a bit further when it mentions mammoth cloning.
3) 3. The original paper displays certain amount of confidences in the findings since they worked with 50,000 year-old specimens that have been stored in room temperature for 200 years in museums. This displayed in the popular article. It focuses on the promise this technique can deliver in the future.
4) 4. The broader implications hinted at in the article focuses on the possibility of a “Jurassic Park-like” reality where scientists can use ancient DNA and bring back life extinct species. This is not mentioned in the original article. And though it is implied in the title of the popular article, it is only briefly mentioned.
5) 5. This technical paper is not trying to overturn previous work but offering a better method of performing the same task. It is mentioned in the popular as a better method.
6) 6. There are no alternative models proposed in news article.