39,000-Year-old RNA Reveals New Insights into Ice Age Mammoth’s Final Moments
Paleogeneticists have, for the first time, successfully isolated RNA from a 39,000-year-old mammoth preserved in Siberian permafrost, offering unprecedented detail about the animal’s life and death. The research, focused on a young mammoth named Yuka, demonstrates that ancient RNA molecules can be preserved for remarkably long periods and provides biological information that complements findings from ancient DNA.
The team, led by Love Dalén’s group at the Center for Palaeogenetics in Stockholm, published their findings in Cell on October 9, 2025 (doi: 10.1016/j.cell.2025.10.025). “With this RNA we get an insight into the last moments of life of an Ice Age mammoth,” says researcher Tom van der Valk. “Such information cannot be obtained from DNA alone.”
Initial analysis of Yuka’s RNA revealed high levels of activity in her muscles shortly before death. Many of the reconstructed RNA molecules originated from genes crucial for muscle contraction and development. Researchers also detected messenger RNA indicative of stress responses,aligning with previous evidence suggesting Yuka was attacked by cave lions before perishing. “We found signs of cell stress, wich is not surprising,” reports researcher Mármol.
The study also yielded exciting discoveries regarding non-coding RNA, specifically microRNAs. “RNAs that do not code for proteins, such as microRNAs, were among our most exciting discoveries,” explains co-author Marc Friedländer from Stockholm University. “The muscle-specific microRNAs that we found in mammoth tissue are direct evidence of prehistoric gene regulation in real time. This is the first time something like this has been achieved.”
comparisons between mammoth RNA and that of modern elephants revealed unique mammoth characteristics, including rare mutations in certain microRNAs. Researchers were even able too identify new genes based solely on RNA evidence – a first for remains of this age. “we were even able to discover new genes based on RNA evidence alone – something that has never been attempted before on remains this old,” reports co-author Bastian Fromm from the Arctic University of Norway in Tromsø.
A surprising outcome of the research was the re-evaluation of Yuka’s sex. Previously believed to be female based on observed skin folds and muscle details, detailed DNA analysis revealed a male XY genotype.”This suggests the presence of only one X chromosome and therefore a male XY genotype,” the researchers report.
The team believes this breakthrough marks a significant advancement in paleogenetics.”our results show that ancient RNA molecules can be preserved over very long periods of time,” write the researchers. “In doing so, they reveal to us long-forgotten layers of biological information that complement the findings from ancient DNA and protein sequencing.”
Future research will focus on integrating prehistoric RNA analysis with DNA, proteins, and other preserved biomolecules to gain a more complete understanding of extinct megafauna. “Such studies could fundamentally change our understanding of extinct megafauna and other species by revealing the many hidden layers of biology that have remained frozen in time until today,” says Mármol.
Source: Stockholm University. November 17, 2025 – Nadja Podbregar.