Sunday May 02, 2010
So Cool:
Mammoth DNA Yields Blood Protein with Anti-Freeze Properties
by Sir Thomas More
Ancient DNA preserved in bones from Siberian mammoths has been used to recreate a unique variant of haemoglobin that allowed the mammals to thrive in cold environments.
"Three highly unusual changes in the protein sequence allowed the mammoth's blood to deliver oxygen to cells even at very low temperatures, something that indicates adaptation to the Arctic environment," said Professor Roy Weber of the University of Aarhus.
"It has been remarkable to bring a complex protein from an extinct species, such as the mammoth, back to life," said Professor Alan Cooper, Director of the Australian Centre for Ancient DNA (ACAD) at the University of Adelaide, where the mammoth haemoglobin sequences were determined.
"This is true palaeobiology, as we can study and measure how these animals functioned as if they were alive today."
The project began when Professor Kevin Campbell of the University of Manitoba contacted Professor Cooper to suggest resurrecting mammoth haemoglobin.
"At the time, I thought 'what a great idea' -- but it's never going to work," Professor Cooper said.
"Still, bringing an extinct protein back to life is such an important concept, we've got to try it."
The team transcribed the mammoth haemoglobin DNA sequences into RNA and inserted them into E. Coli bacteria -- the altered organisms manufactured the authentic mammoth protein.
"The resulting haemoglobin molecules are no different than 'going back in time' and taking a blood sample from a real mammoth," said Professor Campbell.
"We've managed to uncover physiological attributes of an animal that hasn't existed for thousands of years."
"Our approach opens the way to studying the biomolecular and physiological characteristics of extinct species, even for features that leave no trace in the fossil record."
Posted in: Science by bubblejam at 08:58 PM | Comments (0) | Email This Entry