Scientists Sequence Bacterial DNA from Germs in Mammoth Teeth

Scientists discovered microbial DNA in mammoth remains over one million years old, the oldest ever sequenced. Analyzing 483 specimens, they identified 310 microbial species, including potentially pathogenic bacteria similar to those affecting modern elephants. Six microbial groups were found in the mammoths' oral microbiome, with Erysipelothrix bacteria in bone tissue. This research offers insights into ancient animal microbiomes and their potential impact on prehistoric animal health and extinction.