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Why are Siberian woolly mammoth remains especially useful for DNA research?

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Replica of a woolly mammoth with long curved tusks and shaggy fur on display in a museum exhibit, set against a dramatic painted landscape backdrop. — de-extinction The woolly mammoth (*Mammuthus primigenius*)—represented here by a replica in a Canadian museum—is an example of an extinct species that someday could be resurrected through de-extinction.

Siberian woolly mammoth remains are exceptionally valuable for DNA research primarily due to the permafrost in which they are found. This permanently frozen ground provides an environment that allows for the excellent preservation of carcasses, sometimes keeping them in such good condition that the meat remains intact after tens of thousands of years.12

This high level of preservation is critical for de-extinction efforts, as it enables scientists to collect and sequence DNA from the remains and teeth of these animals. By studying this genetic material, researchers can better understand the mammoth's biology and attempt to use gene editing to modify the DNA of their closest living relative, the Asian elephant, in hopes of recreating traits associated with the woolly mammoth.13