Summary: Raising the dead – one protein at a time Episode 40 by Stefanie Vogt (Click here to directly access the MP3) (Access the full text transcript) Although Ice Age animals like Neanderthals and woolly mammoths are long extinct, their DNA lingers on. Scientists are now using DNA sequences from these creatures to recreate their proteins, shedding new light on the inner functioning of their bodies. Listen to the podcast to learn more… Sources and further reading: K.L. Campbell and M. Hofreiter. (2012) New life for ancient DNA. Scientific American August 2012: 46-51. C. Lalueza-Fox et al. (2007) A melanocortin 1 receptor allele suggests varying pigmentation among Neanderthals. Science 318:1453-1455. K.L. Campbell et al. (2010) Substitutions in woolly mammoth hemoglobin confer biochemical properties adaptive for cold tolerance. Nature Genetics 42:536-540. Will we ever clone a mammoth? By Ed Yong Stefanie Vogt is a PhD student studying microbiology at the University of Alberta and an alumna of the 2012 Banff Science Communications Program. She has shared her love of science with thousands of kids by organizing science competitions, science activities in rural Alberta, and a science-themed Harry Potter Day. Follow her on Twitter: @StefanieVogt.
