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Scientists Investigate the Bacteria That Colonized Extinct Mammoths—and Uncover the Oldest Known Microbial DNA From a Host

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Abstract

Now, for the first time, scientists have identified some of the individual species that made up the microbiomes of these extinct mammals. The findings, published September 2 in the journal Cell, could one day lead to insights into how microbes helped or hurt the hulking creatures—including whether they played a role in the eventual demise of mammoths.
Key Data

  • Publication Date
    08 September 2025
  • Primary Author
    Sarah Kuta
  • Source
    Smithsonian Magazine
  • Language
    English
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